After joining Leicester Tigers in the wake of some impressive performances at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Tonga international Telusa Veainu ended his debut season as the supporters’ Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.

Quick and elusive as a wing or full-back, Telusa was also the only Tigers player named in the BT Sports Team of the Season for 2015/16 and ended the campaign as the club’s joint-top tryscorer with Vereniki Goneva.

He won his first cap at the 2015 Pacific Nations Cup and then started all four games for Tonga in the World Cup, scoring a try in the win over Namibia and playing against Argentina at the home of Leicester City FC.

Telusa returned home to New Zealand but was without a contract until he was summoned back to England with a short-term deal at Tigers and proved an instant hit with five tries in his first six games for the club.

His solo score against Worcester Warriors at Welford Road was the supporters’ pick as Try of the Season in 2016/17.

Named as Tonga Players’ Player of the Year in the International RPA awards in 2015, Telusa had previously starred with the Junior All Blacks Under-20s, grabbing a hat-trick of tries in the final of the World Junior Championship in Argentina.

An ITM Cup winner with Canterbury in 2010 (when he scored eight tries) and 2011 (scoring five), he moved to Hawke’s Bay in 2013 and continued his strong form with seven tries in 11 games there.

He also played in Super Rugby with Highlanders, Crusaders and Melbourne Rebels before moving to England.

Follow Telusa Veainu on social media

Twitter: @tveainu | Instagram: @telusa_veainu