The Former Junior All Black and Chiefs prop Ben Castle has signed with the Western Force for the 2009 season as the team's marquee international player.
Castle won 42 Super Rugby caps for the Chiefs over five seasons.
He also represented the Junior All Blacks against Australia A at the Sydney Football Stadium in 2005.
The 29-year-old, also a former Bay of Plenty captain, has been most recently with Toulon in France.
The Force Head Coach John Mitchell says Castle will be a strong contributor on and off the field.
He says Castle is an old-school type of prop who is a good fit for the Force.
