Malakai Fekitoa

Four days on from that 41st-minute exit, Wasps boss Lee Blackett confirmed the grim prognosis for Fekitoa who had qualified to switch his international rugby allegiance to Tonga by playing in last June’s Olympic sevens qualifying event in Monaco.

Blackett explained at a club media briefing: “Malakai has dislocated his shoulder and will need surgery. It will be months rather than weeks and he will be out for a significant time. 

The former All Black first represented the team 13 years ago before moving to New Zealand as a 17-year-old.

Fekitoa is one of three players switching their international allegience to Tonga, alongside former Wallabies forward Lopeti Timani and ex Australian sevens international Afusipa Taumoepeau.

"I am very proud to have been a part of the best team in the world but at the same time I want to contribute something great to Tonga, my country, my homeland and where my heart belongs," he wrote on Twitter.

The 29 year is one of four former New Zealand and Australian internationals who will represent the kingdom in next weekend's Final Olympic Sevens Repechage tournament in Monaco.

The others are former Wallabies forward Lopeti Timani, Australian sevens international, Afusipa Taumoepeau, and Tasman winger Tima Fainga'anuku, who is a former New Zealand sevens representative.

Fekitoa will link up with the Tonga sevens squad already in Monaco after playing in Wasps' final English Premiership match against Leicester Tigers this weekend.

Test capped players are usually unable to play for two different countries at XVs level. However, a loophole came into the sport when rugby became a sevens event at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Players with dual eligibility who have already bound themselves to one country by representing that nation at XVs can now switch to their other country of allegiance through a loophole spurred on by rugby’s involvement at the Games.

The 28-year-old was enjoying an impressive 2019/20 debut season at the Ricoh Arena, guiding Wasps to a home Premiership semi-final against Bristol.

However, he only managed a few minutes of that match as he was forced off with a groin injury after scoring the opening try. Although Wasps went on to win, the injury ruled him out of the final and it was decided that the 24-cap All Black should use the layoff to also undergo surgery to address a shoulder problem. 

Former All Black midfielder Fekitoa, in his first season at the English club, has credited the 21-year-old first-five for transforming Wasps' attack in the absence of of another ex-Kiwi international, Lima Sopoaga, due to illness.

Sopoaga is now back in contention for selection but has struggled to make an impact since signing with Wasps in 2017 and Umaga's impressive form will only have put more pressure on the 18-test All Black.

The 26-year-old, who earned 24 All Blacks caps, had an operation on Monday, according to a report in L'Equipe.

Fekitoa is not expected to play again for his Toulon club until late February or March.

Tonga-born Fekitoa joined Toulon in 2017 after 65 games for the Highlanders.

He has scored eight tries in 30 matches for Toulon and has appeared in 10 Top 14 games and four European Champions Cup fixtures this season.

First the Toulon-bound midfielder lost his place in the All Blacks squad, and now he has been demoted to the bench in what is proving to be a decidedly indifferent final lap of the track with Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Fekitoa has been far from a lone ranger, but he has struggled for anything resembling his best form as Auckland have stumbled to just one win from their first five matches to sit just a point above Counties Manukau at the foot of the Premiership standings.

Fekitoa signed a two-year deal with the Top 14 side, confirming the deal via his Instagram page last month. 

The 24-Test player spoke for the first time on Thursday about his decision to leave, revealing a slip down the pecking order with the All Blacks was the main decision to leave.

"It was the hardest decision I have ever made," Fekitoa told reporters.

"I just started my career and even though 90 percent of fans and supporters disagree with it I believe it is the right to do that and I think it will make me a better player.

French news outlet L'equipe has reported Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal announced the signing at a fan event on Monday night (NZT Tuesday), declaring the "imminent arrival of a world champion All Black centre".

The newspaper said the 25-year-old signed with the French club this month.

Boudjellal said the signing was "the biggest coup of the summer in the transfer market".

 But Toulon released a statement on Thursday morning hosing down speculation, saying until moves had been officially confirmed by the club they were only rumours.