Fiji targeting England age grade star Nordli-Kelemeti
Fiji are trying to convince promising Newcastle Falcons scrumhalf Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti to opt-out of the England system and boost their halfback options heading into the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
The Fijian born scrumhalf moved to North Yorkshire on a scholarship from Suva to Terrington Hall Prep School designed to give opportunities overseas to talented players and was picked up by Falcons following a junior career with Malton & Norton RFC which produced Wales prop Tomas Francis and Exeter Chiefs lock Will Witty, who started his professional career with the Newcastle club.
Nordli-Kelemeti, 22-years-old, was promoted to the Falcons’ senior academy in 2018 having represented England Under-18s and England sevens in the Junior Commonwealth Games in 2017. Nordli-Kelemeti spent last season on loan to Championship club Jersey before returning to Kingston Park and has been give a run of games due to a scrumhalf injury crisis affecting South African Louis Schreuder, who will join Bath next season, veteran Micky Young and Sam Stuart.
Dean Richards, the Falcons director or rugby, revealed Fiji had made contact about his young scrumhalf who has formed an effective halfback combination during the injury crisis with Will Haydon-Wood, the former Sedbergh School outside half who was in the same first XV as Scotland centre Cameron Redpath.
Richards told RugbyPass: “Cam has started far more games than he thought he would have this season and has improved the exposure he has received in that period of time. As a result, he is a far more confident and different player from the start of the season. Fiji have been communicating with us about Cam and the big question is if he wants to play for Fiji or gets the chance to play for an England side because he has English Qualified Player (EPQ) status.
“He has a great skills set and has worked incredibly hard on his scrumhalf position skills and has been given the opportunity of late and it is amazing how quickly players develop.”
Richards is able to be involved with the team on match days having completed his three-game ban after criticising the referee following the defeat last month by Exeter. Richards took the opportunity to stand amongst the Kingston Park fans during his ban and said: “It has been really interesting to hear the spectators’ perspective on things and what they look for. It is very rare that anyone from a rugby club board or the coaching team will sit amongst the crowd and it has been fascinating to discover how informed supporters are and how quickly they get to the right decision.
“It has been good for the guys to do things in a different way on match days and has it impacted on results? You don’t know, but it has been good from other people’s perspectives.
“The fans are keeping the faith and they appreciate we have played some really tough games against teams like Saracens while we have had injury concerns in the squad and also disruptions caused by the pandemic. There have been very different issues but now we are back playing regularly and Will Haydon-Wood is a player who is willing to learn and has a long way to go and it has been good watching him develop this season.”
Comments on RugbyPass
$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to comments