Born in Kawakawa, New Zealand, Veainu completed his education at St. Andrew’s College in Christchurch where he was made 1st XV captain in his final year. 

During his schooling, he worked his way through the age groups of Canterbury RFC’s squads, before being rewarded with an appearance in the New Zealand U20s World Cup in 2010, where he scored 5 tries, including a hat-trick in the final. Telusa got his call up to the Canterbury first team squad and went on to make 34 appearances and scoring 21 tries.

In 2012, he left his boyhood club and bounced around the league, representing Highlanders, Hawke’s Bay and Crusaders, contributing positively wherever he went. Veainu then hopped over the Tasman Sea to play for Melbourne Rising (then Rebels), where he almost managed to score as many tries as games.

In 2015, he relocated to England and joined Leicester Tigers, where he really began to make a name for himself and stunned the Premiership crowds. Playing for the Midlands side 80 times and scoring a brilliant 32 tries, he became a fan favourite during his 5-year tenure, and even helped the squad lift the Anglo-Welsh Cup in the 2016/17 season.

Internationally, Telusa switched his professional playing nationality to Tongan, as he was selected for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Since then he has played 12 times for the ‘Sea Eagles’ scoring 8 times, and was even selected in the 2019 World Cup Squad, in which he was Tonga’s top try-scorer.

Ahead of the 2020/21 season, Telusa hopped across the Channel this time and joined Stade Français. He remained a consistent and dependent player for the French side, and managed to reach double figure tries, scoring 10 during his 3 years in the capital.

Most recently, he joined Knights having spent last season with Sale Sharks, but never managed to consistently find a spot, but we hope this year we can assure Telusa more game time, and he can pass on his wisdom and wicked step to our other players.

Born in China to Fijian parents, George has had a more unorthodox journey into the world of rugby. Moving to the UK at the age of 7, he immediately came and got his junior rugby career underway. In his youth, he moved across rugby clubs in Suffolk and Essex, playing for Hadleigh, Stowmarket, and Colchester. 

All the while, he studied at St. Joseph’s College, Ipswich, polishing up his skills that he was learning at club level. Aged 13, ‘Wacka’ was recruited into the Northampton Saints academy, and also represented England at U17, U18 and U19 level. 

Straight after finishing school, George signed his first pro contract and joined Bath RFC, spending only a season with the West Country club, but witnessed them reach the semi-final of the European Cup, before making his way up north and playing for National 1 side, Darlington Mowden Park, in which he helped the side finish 2nd that season. 

In 2018, he signed for Newcastle Falcons in a season which saw the North East side be relegated from the top division, however, they rectified this the following season and worked their way back into the Premiership. Spending another 4 seasons with Falcons, George was a key piece in the back line for the Newcastle and at the end of the 2023/24 season, waved goodbye and headed a little bit further south to Castle Park.

We are delighted to have George in the squad, a brilliant rugby brain and with plenty of experience, he will be sure to be a great boost in the team’s efforts for the 2024/25 campaign.

Born in Teesside, Josh is an experienced rugby player considering his age, accumulating accolades such as Under 18 and Under 20 England appearances. Josh developed his love for rugby while at Hartpury College, before signing his first professional contract with his local Premiership club, Newcastle Falcons.

Williams then put his rugby on the back-burner and moved into a career with the Royal Marines, but has represented the Royal Navy’s rugby team on numerous occasions.

In 2021, Josh Williams was ready to resume his professional rugby career, and joined Cornish Pirates, however, his season was cut very short due to a long-term injury but came back better than ever in the 2022/23 campaign.

Last season, Josh only played four times as he continued to balance his career as an active serving member of His Majesty’s Royal Marine Commandos, but is ready and raring to go for the upcoming campaign with the Knights, and help us spearhead to new heights as a club.