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Fiji's invite is for November only but here is why they would be a long-term Six Nations asset

By Chris Jones
(Photo by David Ramos/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Six Nations organisers have confirmed to RugbyPass that Fiji won’t be joining the tournament on an annual basis after a misleading statement from the Fijian Rugby Union.

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Fiji have apparently secured an invite to participate in an eight-team tournament next November that will replace the original Test schedule featuring the likes of New Zealand, Australian and South Africa visiting Europe. 

However, while Six Nations have insisted the likely invitation to the Fijians is a one-off, their inclusion highlights how vital players from the Pacific Island nations are to the club game in the northern hemisphere.    

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Fiji’s situation with the Six Nations got lost in translation in midweek when John O’Connor, the FRU’s chief executive, appeared to suggest the country were about to leapfrog Georgia into the tournament. 

In a statement, he claimed: “We are on the verge of joining the Six Nations rugby competition and have Super Rugby, New Zealand and Australia knocking on our doors.”

However, rather than talking about something permanent, it has since been clarified that O’Connor was talking about the invite to the new end-of-year tournament that will be staged in European due to the cancellation of the tours by the All Blacks and co because of the pandemic.

A spokesperson for the Six Nations told RugbyPass on Friday: “Fiji will not be joining the Six Nations Championship but they may be one of the teams participating in an autumn competition.”

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Fiji and Georgia are said to poised to line up with the Six Nations in a one-off competition featuring two pools of four teams, with the top two meeting in a final at Twickenham on December 5.

While they are not wanted permanently, what the impending invite for Fiji highlights is how their squad is very much European-based and they would be a handy doorstep addition to the Six Nations if they were ever asked back.

In the build-up to last year’s World Cup in Japan, Fiji held a three-day camp in Toulouse for their European-based players with 33 attending under head coach John McKee who has since been replaced by Vern Cotter. That European-based pre-World Cup camp involved 19 players who were based in France and 14 from England and Scotland.

The current lockdown restrictions on travel have meant Cotter has yet to work with the Fiji squad since taking over the role – he is currently based in New Zealand having returned home from France. But it seems certain his first training sessions with the squad will now be in France to prepare for the autumn Test series. 

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Despite the Fijian islands being more than 10,000 miles from Twickenham, Fiji are well-positioned to help Europe out as 300 of their players are currently employed at various levels of the sport in France.

Last year’s World Cup squad in Japan featured twelve players operating with French Top 14 clubs, seven in the Gallagher Premiership, two in the Guinness PRO14 and four from the English Championship.

That 25-strong contingent was supplemented by players who remain at home in Fiji, but the pressure to take an overseas contract remains a major factor as it allows them to look after their extended family. A young Fijian player recently revealed he opted to leave home because the money he would earn in France would transform the lives of his 15-strong family group.

When the new season in France gets underway in September there will be more than 20 Fijians in the Top 14 league while nearly as many are in England and Scotland – Glasgow Warriors will feature world-class lock Leone Nakawara in their squad and Edinburgh will boast brilliant No8 Viliame Mata. 

Meanwhile, centre Semi Radradra has swapped France for England and is now at Bristol while Sam Matavesi is in the Northampton squad along with Api Ratuniyarawa. Leicester have just added Kini Murimurivalu to a back division that also includes man-mountain Nemani Nadolo, who retired from Test rugby after scoring 19 tries in 29 internationals for Fiji. 

Two of the most recent arrivals in France have been members of the Fiji sevens squad who have been released to take up their European contracts. Aminiasi Tuimaba has joined Pau, who have three other Fijians in their squad, Filimoni Botitu is the third Fijian now at Castres while Brive boast seven Fijians.

A look at the Fiji team that lost 29-17 to Wales in the final pool game at the 2019 World Cup illustrates the massive influence they have on the European club game:   

1. Campese Ma’afu (ex-Leicester)

2. Sam Matavesi (Northampton)

3. Manasa Saulo (ex-London Irish)

4. Tevita Cavubati (Harlequins)

5. Leone Nakarawa (Glasgow)

6. Dominiko Waqaniburotu (ex-Pau)

7. Semi Kunatani (Castres)

8. Viliame Mata (Edinburgh)

9. Frank Lomani (Melbourne Rebels)

10. Ben Volavola (Perpignan)

11. Semi Radradra (Bristol)

12. Levani Botia (La Rochelle)

13. Waisea Nayacalevu (Stade Francais)

14. Josua Tuisova (Lyon)

15. Kini Murimurivalu (Leicester)

Replacements:

16. Mesulame Dolokoto (Glasgow)

17. Eroni Mawi (Saracens)

18. Peni Ravai (Clermont)

19. Apisalome Ratuniyarawa (Northampton)

20. Peceli Yato (Clermont)

21. Nikola Matawalu (Glasgow)

22. Jale Vatubua (Pau)

23. Josh Matavesi (Bath)

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j
john 11 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

13 Go to comments
A
Adrian 2 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

13 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 8 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.

29 Go to comments
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