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Confirmed: Semi Radradra has named his new French club
The exit of Semi Radradra from Bristol was officially confirmed on Friday evening, the in-demand Fijian powerhouse getting unveiled as a new Lyon signing. It had been no secret that he was set for a return to the Top 14 next season given the tightening of the budgets in the Gallagher Premiership; it was just a case of determining where exactly he would end up.
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Bordeaux, the club that he joined Bristol from, were initially thought to be interested in bringing Radradra back to the fold. That trail went cold and the 30-year-old has instead taken up a two-year offer at Lyon, the club he visited last month to inspect their facilities and to allow their medics to check him out.
A statement read: “Lyon are pleased to formalise the signing of Semi Radradra. The current Fijian centre of the Bristol Bears has signed up for a two-year term, starting July 1.
“Well-known in France, Radradra went through Toulon and then Bordeaux before joining the English Premiership in 2020. Having become a world reference in his position, he is a decisive player with a spectacular style of play.
“A Fijian international, he participated in the 2019 World Cup in Japan. But it was with rugby 7s that he shone, winning the Tokyo Olympics with his country in 2021. Aged 30, he will now return to the Top 14 next season in the jersey of Lyon where he has already built up solid experience in this championship with nearly 50 games played.”
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? Le centre fidjien des Bristol Bears arrive au LOU pour une durée de deux ans.
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?? https://t.co/QPHiQXtKWH#LaForceDuLOU#LaMeute pic.twitter.com/zNV1HcGBxa— LOU Rugby (@LeLOURugby) February 10, 2023
Bristol have already planned for life without Radradra, unveiling the signing of Fijian Drua midfielder Kalaveti Ravouvou earlier this week. Ravouvou announced himself on the Test-level scene with two appearances in November, including a try-scoring effort versus Ireland in Dublin.
That selection followed his emergence earlier in 2022 at the Fijian Drua, the centre starting on a dozen occasions and scoring three tries in Super Rugby Pacific with a franchise that was appearing in that tournament for the first time.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
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