London Welsh today completed the permanent signing of Number 8 Chris Hala'ufia from the Scarlets and further moved to strengthen their back row options with the addition of  his fellow Tongan Opeti Fonua.

Both have been named in the squad to face Wasps at Adams Park on Sunday (3.15pm).

Hala'ufia  joined the Exiles on a two-week loan basis last month, making his debut for the Club off the bench against Harlequins in the Aviva Premiership, and then starting against Newcastle Falcons.

The 36-year-old, had joined the Scarlets last summer from London Irish, where he'd spent the previous six seasons. He also gained Premiership experience with Harlequins.

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Capped 24 times by Tonga between 2000-2009, Hala'ufia scored five international tries.

Fonua, 28, has been capped five times by Tonga and joins the Exiles from Top 14 side Bayonne. With a reputation for big tackles and strong carries, Fonua stands at 6ft 6in tall and tips the scales at 134kg.

Before joining Bayonne in 2013, Fonua previously had two spells at Agen, in both the Top 14 and Pro D2, and also played for Auch. In 2009/10 he helped Agen gain promotion to the Top 14 by winning the Pro D2.

Fonua also brings a huge amount of Heineken Cup and Challenge Cup experience to London Welsh.
 

Hala’ufia, who made two appearances for Welsh last month during a two-week loan period, is named at No 8 against Wasps in one of seven changes from the Exiles’ starting line up which faced Gloucester Rugby last Sunday in the LV= Cup.

Fonua is named among the replacements.

In the backs, Seb Jewell returns at full back and Rob Lewis comes in at scrum half to make what will be his 93rd league appearance for London Welsh.

In the forwards, Pablo Henn and Taione Vea are named in the front row, while club captain Matt Corker partners James Down in the second row. Lachlan McCaffrey returns to the side at openside flanker for his first appearance since Harlequins on October 4.

Half-backs Piri Weepu and Olly Barkley are unavailable due to injury.

Wasps: Miller, Wade, Daly, Bell, Tagicakibau, Goode, Simpson, McIntyre, Shervington, Cooper Wooley, Cannon, Gaskell, Johnson, Haskell (C), Hughes.  Reps:  Lindsay, Yapp, Cittadini, Myall, Jones, Bliss, Lozowski, Varndell.

London Welsh: Jewell, Stegmann, Reynolds, May (capt), Scott, Robinson, Lewis, Henn, Britton, Vea,  Corker, Down, P Browne,  McCaffrey, Hala’ufia. Replacements:  Cahill, Vella, Fonua, Pienaar,  Rowley, Ross, Awcock.

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