Five perfect fits for Fijian prospects in the Gallagher Premiership
Among others, Edinburgh announced the signings on Monday of Fijian players Eroni Sau and Kalione Nasoko.
Sau recently made his debut for the country’s XVs side following a productive stint in the shorter format of the game, whilst Nasoko is the captain of the Gareth Baber-coached sevens team, who currently sit third in the HSBC World Sevens Series.
Mesulame Kunavalu has also been on trial at the Scottish club and RugbyPass understand that Amenoni Nasilasila would have been on his way to the Scottish capital if it were not for the legal proceedings being brought against him in Fiji.
The Scottish Rugby Union and Edinburgh have become adept scouters of talent in the Pacific in recent years with Viliame Mata the most recent success story, whilst Leone Nakarawa’s rise to global prominence happened at Glasgow Warriors a few seasons before that.
It’s an area where they have an edge on many of their English rivals, but the recent Pacific Combine has presented an opportunity for a number of players from Fiji to take on board some high-performance coaching and plump up their CVs in the hopes of earning a contract in the Gallagher Premiership.
We have taken a look at five of the leading players at the Combine and come up with some perfect fits for them in English club rugby.
With Richard Wigglesworth possibly looking at the 2019/20 season as the final one of his career or at least moving into a smaller role, as Neil de Kock did previously, Saracens’ scrum-half depth could be tested. Ben Spencer may well be more involved with England in the next cycle, Henry Taylor’s career has unfortunately stalled due to a number of injuries and Tom Whiteley is the only other nine on the club’s roster.
Lomani has forced himself past Nikola Matawalu and Henry Seniloli to become Fiji’s starting scrum-half and was able to showcase his talents for the Barbarians at the end of last year. A stint at Saracens would certainly improve his conditioning, game management and defensive responsibility, all things which Fiji would prize highly when he is called up for international duty.
If, as reported in South Africa on Monday, Steven Kitshoff is passing up a big-money offer from Sale in order to stay with the Stormers, Steve Diamond is going to be in the hunt for an alternative at loosehead. Sale value an efficient set-piece, but we understand they have been looking to improve their carrying options in that area.
Mawi is not the finished article in the front row yet, but he is someone who can hold down the loosehead side for Sale in conjunction with Ross Harrison, as well as giving the side from the north-west someone who can get them moving forward with the ball in hand. With Sale losing minimal front row resources during international windows, they can deal with Mawi’s occasional absences with Fiji.
Mesulame Dolokoto to Leicester Tigers
The signing of Tatafu Polota-Nau was always going to be a short-term fix for Leicester, whilst Jake Kerr’s rise has put him squarely in the sights of Scotland. Bringing in a powerful carrier like Dolokoto would help give Leicester something they have been missing since Harry Thacker packed his bags and headed to Bristol, whilst there are the alternative options currently at the club that would mean the hooker doesn’t need to be rushed into action. He can instead work on his set-piece consistency before taking up a more regular role in the matchday 23s when he is organically ready to.
Thankfully for Dolokoto, he picked up his third cap for the Fiji in November, something which should now make it possible for him to secure a visa in the UK, should a Premiership club come looking. Like Mawi, he can pack a punch with the ball in hand for a tight five forward, something Leicester do miss on occasion, especially when Ellis Genge is away with England.
Veremalua Vugakoto to Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle have shown no caution about going after Fijian players before and they have benefitted from the likes of Vereniki Goneva, Nemani Nagusa, Tevita Cavubati and Josh Matavesi in recent seasons. The club are probably going to struggle to keep all three of Kyle Cooper, George McGuigan and Santiago Socino in the years to come, especially with Cooper beginning to attract the attention of the ‘bigger’ clubs, so Vugakoto could be an excellent fit for the Falcons.
At just 21 years of age, there is still plenty of work Vugakoto needs to do and with that strong trio of senior hookers in place for the moment and a number of Fijian players on the roster to help with the acclimatisation process, Newcastle could also be the perfect fit for him. Like Dolokoto, he also met the cap threshold for visas during the November internationals.
Caleb Muntz to Exeter Chiefs
This is unlikely to be a move that could happen until next year, with Muntz, 20, currently involved with the Fijian U20 and Warrior sides and has yet to win his first senior cap. That could well change after the Rugby World Cup, though, at which point he would be an intriguing prospect to add a different dimension to Joe Simmonds and help ease the burden on the veteran Gareth Steenson.
The structure that Exeter play with is going to be vastly different to what Muntz is used to with Fijian representative sides and growing up in New Zealand, so it could be a nice fit for rounding out his game and giving Fiji a long-term fly-half prospect. If he goes down the Fijian Drua route, he risks then being seen as a full-back when or if a move to Europe materialises, just as it has for former Drua fly-half Alivereti Veitokani.
Watch: Fiji 7s team thrown into chaos with off-field issues
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments