Northampton Saints lock Temo Mayanavanua will leave the European Champions Cup finalists at the end of the season to return home to play in Fiji.

The 27-year-old has made 16 appearances this season and scored a try in the 38-8 Champions Cup group-stage win over Castres.

Mayanavanua joined Saints following the 2023 World Cup and made his debut against Saracens that December.

“I felt a really good buzz from the first day. Everyone made me feel like it was home and that it was a special group,” he said.

“Going onto win the Premiership last season speaks volumes about that, and now progressing to the Investec Champions Cup Final echoes that too.”

Mayanavanua has been playing club rugby away from Fiji for nearly eight years but added: “It has been a really tough decision to make, we have really loved our time here in Northampton.

“The supporters, especially, have made us feel so welcome and that has made it so hard to choose whether to go home or stay.”

Director of rugby Phil Dowson said Mayanavanua had made a “huge impact” at the club.

He continued: “When we watched him play for his former club, we really liked how physical he was, but we probably didn’t see then how unbelievably skilful he was and how good a reader of the game he is. These are obviously facets of his game that will be sorely missed.

“But off it, Temo has been a father figure to what is a young squad. He has looked after them and he has led in his own way. So, we are very sad to see him go because he has had a huge impact from the moment he came in and he will continue to for the rest of the season.”

Mayanavanua started the game against Leinster on Saturday when Saints won 37-34 to reach the Champions Cup final.

They now face league games against Exeter Chiefs and Saracens before taking on Bordeaux in the final on 24 May.