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Former All Black Lima Sopoaga on his attempt to switch allegiances

By Sam Smith
Lima Sopoaga

Former All Blacks first five Lima Sopoaga has revealed he attempted to make a switch of international allegiances like his former Highlanders and Wasps teammate Malakai Fekitoa.

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Despite Tonga not reaching the Olympic finals in Sevens, Fekitoa turned out for the side during a qualifying event recently in Monaco which completed the required number of games to complete his allegiance switch the nation of his birth.

Speaking to James Marshall on the What A Lad podcast, Sopoaga revealed he had plans to join Fekitoa on the Sevens circuit in order to switch his allegiance to Samoa, who he has expressed a desire to play for in the past.

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John Kirwan on All Blacks vs Tonga test

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John Kirwan on All Blacks vs Tonga test

“I tried to do the switch like Malakai,” Sopoaga told What a Lad podcast.

“He played in Monaco and I wanted to be a part of that with the sevens set-up.”

Sopoaga had tried to make his schedule work but he was unable to move his booking for a quarantine space in New Zealand on returning from the UK, saying it became a step too far.

“It just didn’t work out, because, in my voucher [for return to New Zealand] was for the 16th of June and we couldn’t get it moved so that me and my whole family could come back. We had already booked our flights. We couldn’t book it in my voucher for all of us.

“They could book one for just me, that was flying from the UK into New Zealand for two weeks quarantine, it was just a step too far.

“That’s three kids, there and under that’s tough. I couldn’t do that to her [Sopoaga’s wife], I really wanted to, I had to put my family first in that situation, it was just unfortunate that was the way that it happened and I couldn’t get back home into the country.”

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The 30-year-old said he still harbours an ambition to ‘help out Samoa’ by completing a switch of allegiance in the future despite not being able to do it this year.

“I am keen to try and help out Samoa and play for them,” he added.

The flyhalf will move to the Top 14 with French club Lyon next season after three seasons with Wasps in the Premiership.

After 16-caps for the All Blacks, he announced he was leaving New Zealand after the 2017 Super Rugby season to join the English club.

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Trevor 1 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.

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Bull Shark 5 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.

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