Forward Steve Mafi has left the Leicester Tigers to join Western Force for the next two Super Rugby seasons, the club said on Friday.
Lock or back-rower Mafi, 25, played for four years with Leicester, where he won the Tigers' Players' Player Award in 2012 and was a member of their premiership-winning side in 2012/13.
The former Australian Schoolboy and Under 20 representative was a member of the NSW Waratahs squad before linking with Leicester in 2010, where he played 85 matches in four seasons.
Mafi has also played 10 Tests for Tonga since making his international debut against Samoa in 2010.
"It's great to have the opportunity to come back to Australia to play with the Force and be closer to my family," Mafi said.
"I've always had an eye on coming back to play Super Rugby and I'm looking forward to playing some attacking, running rugby."
Source: AFP