A seasoned campaigner in the southern hemisphere, the prop brings 100 appearances worth of Super Rugby experience to Scotstoun, having turned out for Queensland Reds as well as the Rebels during his career.

Talakai made his Glasgow Warriors debut in the opening round of the 2024/25 season, starting at tight-head away to Ulster on the first weekend of the BKT URC campaign.

A product of Waverley College in Sydney – alma mater of Australian internationals including 1999 Rugby World Cup winner, Owen Finegan, and Morgan Turinui –, Talakai became a regular for Sydney University, making 72 first-grade appearances for the club.

His form for the University saw him called up to the Waratahs squad in the summer of 2013, coming off the bench to make his professional debut against the British and Irish Lions.

After a short spell in Japan at the end of 2018, three seasons at Suntory Sungoliath followed, helping helping a star-studded Sungoliath squad reach three Grand Finals before returning to the Rebels ahead of the 2023 Super Rugby campaign.

Talakai’s form saw him drafted into the Australia squad for the 2022 Autumn Nations Series, with former Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Dave Rennie handing the tight-head his international debut by selecting him amongst the replacements for a 39-34 victory over Wales in Cardiff.