Wharfedale have completed the signing of Tongan international Talite Vaioleti.

The 29-year-old, whose sole cap came as a replacement against France in Toulouse in 2005, captained Jersey to the National Three South title last season.

Known as “Vee”, the 6ft 4in, 18st 6lb forward can play anywhere across the back five of the scrum and, although he prefers the back row, he is likely to be used in the second row by the Dalesmen.

Also newly on board for the Greens are hooker Ian Larkin, from Leeds Metropolitan University, and 18-year-old fly half Tom Barrett, who has just left Sedbergh School.

However, on the debit side, wingers Dave Hall and Iain Dixon will not be with Wharfedale next season.

Both are finding it too hard, for business and family reasons, to undertake the required travelling, but leave with the club’s good wishes.

Wharfedale’s new coach Tom McGee said of Vaioleti, who scored nine tries in 39 appearances for Jersey over the past two seasons: “He flew in last Friday and trained with the lads last Saturday morning.

“It is hard to say too much early on about players but he is a big lad and moves well and, having chatted to him, he has a good rugby brain.

“We have a good relationship with Leeds Carnegie, and Ian Larkin and Tom Barrett are impressive players for us, as is Ben Sowrey, who has just switched to hooker and is in a transition period.

“Hopefully players will also realise that good things are happening at Wharfe-dale and word of mouth might mean that other players will come to join us.” McGee is adopting a Mick McCarthy-style approach to Wharfedale’s pre-season matches.

The Wolves soccer boss has opted to treat the autumn friendlies as games to be won rather than something where a mass of players get half a game each, and McGee feels much the same.

“I want to win all three,” said the Scot of the contests at home to Stirling County (August 14), at Preston Grass-hoppers (August 21) and at home to Kendal (August 28), “and we are good enough to.

“Stirling County will be on their last week before they start their league programme, and they will provide tough opposition, but I know the Scottish scene and we are good enough to beat them.

“Some people have been saying that I want 30 players for these games but the most I want is 25 because we need to see what those 25 can do so I can pick my best 20 for the first league game.”

McGee added: “There are a lot of new calls to learn and a lot of new players but I pride myself on my preparation and organisation and the players will be in good condition.

“But just because I am a prop myself, I haven’t been concentrating on the forwards.

All the coaches got together at the start of pre-season – we are now into week five of the eight weeks – and I have been looking at all aspects.

“I haven’t made any predictions about our ambitions for this season as it is my first year – that is up to the players – but it might be different in year two.”