Samoa centre Leiua joins Bristol
The powerful centre – who arrives from Wasps – has made thirty appearances for the Premiership outfit.
Leiua is the club’s first confirmed new signing ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.
"We’re delighted to beat off interest from a number of clubs and capture Alapati’s signing. He’s a robust midfielder who can play in a number of positions in the backline. He’s versatile, with excellent hands and acceleration,” head coach Mark Tainton told bristolrugby.co.uk.
"Alapati was a standout performer for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and made a similar impact in his first season with Wasps – he will be a fantastic addition to the Bristol Rugby squad,"
Leiua made his international debut versus Scotland in 2013, earning eleven caps for Samoa so far.
He said: "I’m hugely excited about the prospect of joining Bristol Rugby – an ambitious club with a passionate supporter base. When I spoke to the club about their vision going forward and the tight-knit culture that they are striving to create, it was an easy decision for me to make.
"There’s something special happening at Bristol and I am looking forward to being a part of that journey. For the remainder of the campaign, I’m committed to Wasps and helping the team achieve their goals,"