Netani Edward Talei was one of a number of high-profile additions to the Edinburgh squad for season 2010/11.
The Fijian back-row forward, who can play No.8 or blindside flanker arrived from Worcester Warriors and has been a firm favourite with fans ever since - the 2011/12 campaign standing out as his best yet.
His Heineken Cup performances stand as testimony to his ability to raise his game for the big occasions, as he collected three man-of-the-match awards for three try-scoring outings in the pool stages alone, as Edinburgh Rugby reached an unprecedented place in the semi-final.
Talei started his rugby career with Counties Manukau, the Air New Zealand Cup side. He played with Lons-Le-Saunier in the French Federal 1 championship before, in 2006, joining Doncaster in the English second division. After impressing with the Knights, the powerhouse breakaway moved to Premiership outfit Worcester, where he spent three years. He was part of the Fiji side that reached the quarter-finals of the 2007 Rugby World Cup and comes highly rated. He lists his interests away from rugby as swimming and five-a-side football.
