Edwin Maka, nephew of former Toulouse and international number eights Finau and Isitolo Maka, has joined the French champions.

There's a new Maka in Toulouse...and he weighs 130kg!

Standing at 2m02, 19-year-old Edwin Maka arrived in Toulouse from Australia this July hoping to follow in the footsteps of his uncles.

Former Tongan captain Finau, and former All Black and current Tonga coach Isitolo Maka, became household names during their playing days in the Toulouse back row, but their nephew could become an even bigger star.

The latest member of the family to sign with Toulouse has inked a deal until 2014 and has started training with the team.

"I like the group, the guys are friendly and easy to approach," said the Auckland-born Edwin Maka, who started training under the watchful eye of uncle Finau, who spent nine years in rouge et noir.

"The method of training here is very different. It's very physical. The infrastructure is much better than where I was before.

"I'd like to improve my fitness because my power alone will not be good enough [to make the first team]."

Don't expect him to gain a lot of game time in his first season since French international Louis Picamoles is the incumbent, but given his pedigree and size, it surely won't take long for Maka to make an impact at Stade Ernest-Wallon.

Although he has signed an 'espoirs' (youth) contract, he is currently taking French lessons, hoping to pass the DELF 2 level, the prerequisite for a professional contract for a foreign player at Toulouse.

Planet Rugby