More Fiji Airways Flying Fijians are joining rugby competition in Europe after the Rugby World Cup.

Loose-head prop Eroni Mawi is reported to be signing a deal with Northampton Saints at Franklin Gardens.

His fellow Flying Fijian and hooker Sam Matavesi joined the Saints early this week from Cornish Pirates.

The loose-head, 23, has been available since the end of the RWC and has been playing his rugby with the Fiji Airways Fijian Drua side in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) in Australia and the Fijian Latui side in Global Rapid Rugby.

He was part of the Fiji 23 that played Australia, Uruguay and Wales at the RWC and currently has 14 caps to his name.

He was a member of the team that defeated the Barbarians at Twickenham. He is also a former captain of the Pacific nation’s U20 side.

Providing a solid presence at the set-piece, Mawi has been one of the catalysts for Fiji’s improvement at the scrum over the last few years and will now get a chance to hone those skills in the Gallagher Premiership, where he could join Matavesi and Api Ratuniyarawa in a particularly Fijian tight five.

Yasawa native Taqele Naiyaravoro also played for the Saints and has been nominated as one of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Player of November.

Northampton are currently flying high at the top of the Premiership, as well as winning two from two in the Heineken Champions Cup, as they lean on their explosive attacking game under Director of Rugby Chris Boyd and attack coach Sam Vesty.

Their high-tempo playing style has seen them outscore, points and tries, all 11 other Premiership clubs so far this season and the signing of Matavesi and Mawi, assuming the latter is confirmed, will add two more tight five players capable of adding to that game plan, whilst also attempting to bolster their resources at the set-piece.

Mawi’s signing, plus that of Drua and international teammate Frank Lomani, who is joining up with the Melbourne Rebels, and hooker Mesulame Dolokot joining the Glasgow Warriors is a strong endorsement of the pathway that the Drua’s involvement in the NRC has helped create for players in Fiji.

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