Western Force fly-half Zack Holmes has signed a two-year deal with La Rochelle, the Top 14 club announced Tuesday.
The 25-year-old Perth-born Holmes, an Australian sevens international who previously played with Force’s Super 15 rivals Brumbies, will replace Kiwi playmaker Peter Grant who was released with a season to run on his contract for family reasons.
The club also signed Fiji-born New Zealand sevens international David Raikuna, 27, as a part-time replacement for the duration of the September 18-October 31 Rugby World Cup.
La Rochelle finished ninth in the Top 14 and have already snapped up Bayonne hooker David Roumieu, Albi prop Maxime Gau, Oyonnax lock Damien Lagrange, Lyon’s South African scrum-half Ricky Januarie, Oyonnax centre Pierre Aguillon, Albi winger Gabriel Lacroix and Racing-Metro full-back Benjamin Lapeyre.