Folau Fainga'a

Australian hooker Folau Fainga'a brings a decade of high-level experience to ASM Clermont Auvergne. Born on 5 May 1995, he rose to prominence in Super Rugby with the Brumbies, where his blend of lineout accuracy and close-range finishing made him one of the most productive forwards in the competition. That try-scoring habit, unusual for a number two, translated into regular Wallabies selection and Test appearances for Australia across The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup campaigns. His move to Clermont in 2023 added Top 14 rugby to a resume that also includes time with the Western Force, broadening his exposure to the unique set-piece demands of French club rugby. His lineout throwing, honed over successive Super Rugby seasons, provides Clermont with a reliable option at the top of the set piece, while his strong carrying on short lines and combative defensive work at maul time round out a well-grounded hooker's game. Still in prime years for a front-rower, Fainga'a offers Clermont a proven international presence in the tight five alongside an experienced understanding of both southern and northern hemisphere rugby.