Old Glory DC have signed Fijian lock Api Naikatini for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. The 34-year-old joins the expansion side from the defending champion Seattle Seawolves. He has most recently been suiting up for Waikato in New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup provincial competition.

Naikatini won 18 caps for Fiji and only narrowly missed out on the 2015 World Cup. He had previously played Super Rugby with the Hurricanes and had spent time in the Japan Top League and French Top 14. After an injury-disrupted year that saw him return to New Zealand club rugby, Naikatini joined the Seawolves in January and started 15 games during their second title run.

It’s a strong addition for DC, who have added further MLR experience to their pack to go with loose forwards Travis Larsen and Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz. Old Glory now has a dozen players publicly confirmed for the upcoming season, among them former Glendale fullback Dylan Taikato-Simpson.