Leicester Strengthen Squad

Leicester Tigers have made two major signings. Fijian star Seru Rabeni and Tongan hooker Ephraim Taukafa have joined the the two-times winners of the Heineken Cup as the English side bid to challenge for Europe's top prize in 2004/2005.

The Tigers found themselves knocked out of Europe's premier club rugby competition at the Pool Stages for the first time in four years last season.

Seru joins Tigers from New Zealand Super 12 franchise the Otago Highlanders, where his pace, power and reading of the game saw make 12 appearances either on the wing or at centre.

While 17-stone hooker Taukafa originally played in North Harbour, New Zealand, before making his way across the Tasman to play for Northern Suburbs in Sydney in 2003.

Taukafa, 27, played in all four of Tonga's pool games at the World Cup - making two starts, against Italy and Canada, and coming on twice as a replacement, against Wales and the All Blacks.

Former Tongan coach Jim Love, who coached Taukafa at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, thinks his acquisition could prove to be a masterstroke for Leicester.

'Taukafa is a very talented footballer with a wide range of skills and an aggressive attitude,' said Love. 'His style will suit English rugby.'

And Tigers backline coach Pat Howard revealed his excitement at the prospect of working with Rabeni: 'We think that he will compliment the backline that ended the 2003/04 season, as he has that perfect balance between penetration and speed.

'He's an experienced Super 12 player and we're sure that he will fit in at Leicester with his professional attitude and keep the backline going from strength to strength.'

Former ACT Brumbies star Howard, whose playing days will come to an end at the conclusion of the current season in France, remembers coming up against Seru in the Super 12.

'I don't know him personally, but I remember him [from the Super 12],' said Howard. 'He's a good athlete, but also a good rugby player and we're hoping that he will enjoy his time at Leicester, who have a wonderful support base.'

A former teacher, Seru has played rugby since his early schooldays in Fiji. He played for the Fijian first division club side, Lautoka, whilst at college, before moving on to the capital's club, Suva.

Seru is also an accomplished Sevens player, having made his debut for the Fijian Sevens side in Dubai in 1998. He played in two Hong Kong Sevens tournaments and also appeared for his country in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

He played at both U21 and U23 level for Fiji before making his senior test debut in May 2000 against Japan in Tokyo during the Epson Cup tournament. He has since toured with Fiji to New Zealand in 2002, and the same year played against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The following year he toured with the national side to South America, scoring his only test try to date in the 41-16 victory over Chile in Santiago.

Seru started all four of Fiji's pool games in the 2003 World Cup, playing at centre in the games against France and USA in Brisbane, Japan in Townsville and Scotland in Sydney. In the warm-up to the tournament, he scored a hat-trick of tries in Fiji's friendly game against Canterbury in Christchurch.

Twenty-five-year-old Seru, who has won 15 international caps, played for Fiji in the recent 'Pacific Tri-Nations' - which they won - and he was one of 11 Fijians recently selected in the 27-man Pacific Islanders squad for tests against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa later this summer.

In 2001, Seru took up a three-year degree course at Otago University, New Zealand, and the following year played seven games for Otago in the National Provincial Championship, before gaining a Super 12 contract with the Highlanders.