LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Tevita Pangai Junior, the former NSW Blues representative forward, has recently attracted interest from two prominent rugby union clubs in Europe, just weeks after signing with a new club in France. Currently, he is playing under a "temporary contract" with Sporting Club Leucante in the sixth division of France's rugby union scene, but his long-term prospects remain unclear.
Previously linked to the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby and Warrington Wolves in the Super League, Pangai Junior is now training with Biarritz Olympique, a club in France's second division, as he aims to revitalize his career.
According to the European website France Bleu, both Paris Stade Francais and Lyon, two of the largest clubs in the Top 14, have expressed interest in him, contacting his agent about his current situation.
Pangai Junior has mentioned his desire to retire in Australia, indicating an interest in returning to the NRL by 2026. Over the course of nine seasons in the NRL, he played for the Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers, Canterbury Bulldogs, and The Dolphins, totaling 147 first-grade matches. He also earned nine international caps for Tonga and played one game for the NSW Blues during the 2023 State of Origin series.
In 2024, the six-time Tongan international stated, "I would like to retire back in Australia."