Eighteen-year-old Mose Fuala'au, who helped Life West to a national DII club championship, is leaving the Gladiators to attend a rugby academy in France.

Fuala'au, who is originally from Federal Way, Wash., and came to Life West out of James Logan HS in Union City, Calif., is a 6-0, 186 center with pace and an excellent sidestep. He will miss the Club 7s National Championships as he will intead be in France with top club Clermont Auvergne, where he will attend the academy there, and is reportedly taking an academy contract, meaning he would be with the club for the upcoming season, training and learning, and playing occasionally with the Academy team.

"He will leave a huge hole," said Gladiators Coach Adriaan Ferris. "He has been a standout for us despite this being his first year of 7s rugby. He’s a natural athlete with a big future."