Tupou went to the same school as former All Blacks star Jonah Lomu

The 24-year-old has signed a four-year contract after being released by NRL side Brisbane and will fly to England once his work permit is processed.

"I'm hoping to be over next week and can't wait to get playing for Bradford," Tupou told the Bradford Telegraph & Argus.

Vainikolo has been linked with a move to union side Gloucester.

He could seal the switch this month and will link up again with former Bulls team-mate Karl Pryce at Kingsholm.

Vainikolo has scored 140 tries in 144 appearances since joining Bradford from Canberra in 2002.

He is contracted to the Odsal club until 2009 but has expressed a desire to play union and Bradford could release him once they secure Tupou's work permit.

Tupou, who made his international debut for New Zealand in last year's Anzac Test, made 18 Broncos appearances in 2006 but was dropped for the NRL Grand Final.

He was educated at Wesley College in Auckland, the same school that produced All Blacks backs Jonah Lomu and Sitiveni Sivivatu.

"Bradford are doing great at the moment. I've seen a couple of games already and they're at the top of the table," said Tupou, who weighs in at 17 stone.

"Hopefully I can get back to playing some good footy but I just want to get there and concentrate on training well first."