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Page last updated at 17:25 GMT, Friday, 12 June 2009 18:25 UK

Too'ala keen to make Leeds impact

Alfie Too'ala
Too'ala is one of three Samoans in the Leeds squad

Leeds Carnegie's new signing Alfie Too'ala says he has not moved to Headingley just to make up the numbers.

The 29-year-old former Rotherham back-row forward returns to Yorkshire after a spell at Bristol.

The Samoan will fight it out with the likes of Calum Clark, Hendre Fourie and Rhys Oakley for a first-team spot.

"There is always competition when you are a professional player, but I'll be working vey hard to get a first team place," Too-ala told BBC Radio Leeds.

Too'ala has joined fellow Samoans Fosi Pala'amo and new signing Henry Fa'afili at Headingley for the club's return to the Premiership.

Too'ala added: "It's good to have those guys around and it helps to get you settled in.

"I'm really enjoying it so far and think there is a great professional level here under [director of rugby] Andy Key and [head coach] Neil Back, and you can learn a lot from those two."

Meanwhile, fellow newcomer Marco Wentzel is set to take on the British and Irish Lions on Tuesday, 16 June.

The former Leicester Tigers second-row has been invited to play for the Southern Kings, a new franchise based in Port Elizabeth.

That will be the final warm-up game for the Lions before their first Test against South Africa.

Leeds director of rugby Andy Key told the club website: "We are delighted for Marco - it is a huge honour to play against the Lions and we were pleased to give him permission to play this game for the Southern Kings.

"He will report back for pre-season on 1 July so this is a great way to end a successful season for him before he arrives with us and gets ready for our return to the Premiership."



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see also
Leeds sign Fa'afili from Biarritz
29 May 09 |  Rugby Union
Leeds line up two more signings
19 May 09 |  Rugby Union
Leeds sign Too'ala from Bristol
18 May 09 |  Rugby Union
Leeds look to sign eight players
27 Apr 09 |  Rugby Union
Leeds sign Wentzel from Leicester
02 Apr 09 |  Rugby Union
Players keen on Carnegie - Back
15 Apr 09 |  Rugby Union


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