Leinster confirm signing of former All Black Charlie Ngatai

Leinster have confirmed the signing of Lyon's former All Black centre Charlie Ngatai.

Confirmation of the 31-year-old's arrival had been expected in recent months with the versatile back first linked with the province in March.

Primarily a centre, the New Zealander can cover multiple backline positions, and joins from Top14 side Lyon, whom he won a Challenge Cup title with last month, as they defeated Toulon 30-12 in Marseille.

Ngatai earned his sole All Blacks cap in 2015, while he has played 12 times for the Maori All Blacks. Prior to his move to Lyon in 2018 he spent five years playing Super Rugby for the Chiefs, whom he captained.

"I've had a great few seasons in Lyon but I’m now excited to get started in a new environment, a new team culture and to take on new challenges.

"I’ve had a few good chats with Leo and it will be exciting to play alongside some new and also some familiar faces," he said.

His arrival at Leinster will boost Leo Cullen's midfield options, with Ciarán Frawley likely to be a more regular presence in Ireland squads.

Ngatai featured for Lyon in their Heineken Champions Cup meeting with Leinster in the 2019/20 season, but Cullen says he's been a keen admirer of the centre for some time.

"I first came across Charlie back in 2014 when I visited the Chiefs late-on in my playing days and as I was preparing to make the transition into coaching. Even then, as a young man, you could see the influence he had on that Chiefs squad and that influence I think has only increased over the years with Lyon most recently," Cullen said.

"He's a New Zealand international and I believe would have been capped far more only for his injury issues [concussion] which were well-documented at the time but he has been back playing now