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BYU's football program turned that old public relations adage about releasing bad news late Friday night before a holiday weekend on its head late Friday night.

The Cougars had some good news to report just before the Memorial Weekend began, announcing that they have signed 6-foot-7, 322-pound rugby player Manase Tu'ungafasi to a National Letter of Intent.

The 9 p.m. MT announcement says Tu'ungafasi is from Auckland, New Zealand and actually signed his letter on Saturday afternoon in his home country, which is 18 hours ahead of Provo time.

The release said Tu'ungafasi was also recruited by Utah and Oregon State.

"We are excited to welcome Manase as the newest member of the BYU football program," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "He is an excellent athlete with exceptional size coming from a rugby background. … I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Manase, and we look forward to helping him develop as a football player here at BYU."

Tu'ungafasi will be the second member of the 2015 signing class who has play little, if any, football. Tongan teenager Motekiai Langi, who weighs 410 pounds, signed in February before leaving on an LDS Church mission to Arizona.

Tu'ungafasi, who prepped at Massey High, will join the Cougars in fall camp, which begins on Aug. 8, and work with the other offensive linemen.