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Bristol versus Top 14 isn't the only tug of war for Semi Radradra

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

The club-level future isn’t the only tug of war that Fiji’s Semi Radradra is currently embroiled in as the services of the Bristol midfielder are also in demand for the end-of-season exhibition that pits Eddie Jones versus Steve Hansen for the first time since the 2019 England versus New Zealand World Cup semi-final.

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Jones, the recently sacked England boss, is set to lead the Barbarians in their Killik Cup match at Twickenham in May against a World XV that will be coached by Hansen, who is currently employed in the Japanese Top League.

Radradra has been the subject of regular transfer speculation this winter linking him with a move away from Bristol and back to the Top 14 for the 2023/24 season.

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However, it has now been reported by the Evening Standard that this battle between the Gallagher Premiership Bears and clubs in the French league isn’t the only fight that the Fijian midfielder is involved in.

A report in the London-based newspaper read: “There’s a bit of a tug of war between Steve and Eddie for Radradra. They both want him to play for them in the centre. I mean, who wouldn’t?

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“He’s an unbelievable player, one of the best in the world. So it looks like Semi has some thinking to do; Baa-Baas with Eddie or World XV with Steve. It’s going to be a difficult decision for the Fijian.”

Having missed the recent Autumn Nations Series with Fiji due to a pre-season injury with Bristol, Radradra returned to action last month with his club, featuring in four of their recent matches. He joined the Bears from Bordeaux in the summer of 2020 having initially arrived in France to play for Toulon in 2017/18.

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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