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Fiji's invite is for November only but here is why they would be a long-term Six Nations asset
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.
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.”
Lost in translation…https://t.co/zjVyGp2lUB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 24, 2020
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three-day camp in Toulouse for their European-based players with 33 attending under head coach John McKee who has since been replaced by Vern Cotter.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.
It has been an extraordinary day of claim and counter claim https://t.co/MfknKH1DHZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 22, 2020
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)
This incredible saga has now taken another remarkable twist https://t.co/9YUD5Ec6G6
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 22, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Good to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
16 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
16 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
16 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
16 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
16 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
16 Go to comments