The Western Force is excited to confirm the addition of tighthead prop Feao Fotuaika for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.
The experienced front-rower joins the Force after spending last season with the ACT Brumbies where he made 11 appearances scoring one try for the semi-finalists.
Fotuaika has previous Super Rugby experience from a four-year stint with the Queensland Reds where he clocked up 31 appearances from 2019 to 2022, before moving to France to join Top 14 club Lyon where he played 28 times across a two-and-a-half-year stint.
Fotuaika has six caps for Tonga and was part of their 2023 Rugby World Cup squad, but missed the event due to injury.
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More recently, the 32-year-old played in Tonga’s 2025 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup campaign in the USA in August and September, having been part of the First Nations & Pasifika XV squad that faced the British & Irish Lions in July.
Fotuaika was born in Gisborne, New Zealand, but moved to Australia at the age of 14 and attended St Francis College in Brisbane, before representing Australia at schoolboy level.
He went on to play for Queensland Country and then Brisbane City in the NRC, before debuting at Super Rugby level for the Reds in 2019.
Western Force head coach Simon Cron said: “He’s a big strong tighthead prop who we’ve been watching over the years.
“A key position we have fallen into trouble in over the last few seasons has been tighthead prop. Injury and experience have always tested our depth, so we have found ourselves hunting players to cover front row spots in-season.
"Feao has loads of Super Rugby experience and was a great leader at the Brumbies, so we feel like he’ll add a lot to the existing group.”
Fotuaika was thrilled about the opportunity to join the Force and optimistic he can bring experience, physicality and set-piece nous to the side.
“I’m super excited to make my way west to join the Sea of Blue,” Fotuaika said. “I was rapt when the opportunity came up and I’m keen to experience a new lifestyle over in Perth.
“When I talked to the coaches, they spoke about me being a good fit for the club, adding to the front row and making a stamp on the side. I like to be physical and base my game around physicality and set-piece. Hopefully I can bring that to the Force.
“I’ve played with a few of the guys and I’m really keen to get over and prove myself.”
Fotuaika will link up with the Force when pre-season for the 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season commences next week.
The Force's 2026 Super Rugby Pacific squad will be announced on Thursday 6 November.
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Feao Fotuaika
DOB: 23/4/1993
Place of Birth: Gisborne, NZ
Height: 186cm
Position: Tighthead prop
Junior club: Sunnybank Dragons (Qld)
Club history
ACT Brumbies (2025, 11 caps, 1 try)
Lyon (2022-2024, 28 caps, 2 tries)
Queensland Reds (2019-2022, 31 caps, 2 tries)
Brisbane City (2015-2019)
Queensland Country (2014)
