Former All Blacks midfielder Seta Tamanivalu one of 10 new caps in Fiji squad
Former All Blacks midfielder Seta Tamanivalu has been included as one of 10 new caps in the Fiji squad for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup.
Tamanivalu qualifies for Fiji under World Rugby’s new eligibility laws, whereby test-capped players can represent a second nation that they are eligible for via birthright following a three-year stand down period.
Born-and-raised in Fiji, Tamanivalu played three tests for the All Blacks in 2016 before featuring in two non-tests in 2017, but hasn’t played any international rugby since then.
That makes the 30-year-old Toshiba Brave Lupus star available for Fijian selection, and he has been duly included in Vern Cotter’s 34-man squad to face Samoa, Tonga and Australia A next month.
Tamanivalu is joined by nine other players in line to make their test debuts for Fiji, all of whom played for the Fijian Drua in their maiden Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Those players are locks Isoa Nasilasila and Ratu Leone Rotuisolia, loose forwards Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta and Rusiate Nasove, halfback Peni Matawalu, midfielders Kalaveti Ravouvou and Apisalome Vota, and outside backs Vinaya Habosi and Ilaisa Droasese.
Habosi, Vota and Ravouvou were particular standouts for the Drua in their inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season, as was Cirikidaveta after having joined the squad from New Zealand provincial side Tasman.
Those nine players make up more than half of the Drua contingent in the Fiji squad, with a further seven players from Mick Byrne’s squad making the national side.
Those additional players are props Haereiti Hetet and Manasa Saulo, hookers Tevita Ikanivere and Mesu Dolokoto, halfbacks Frank Lomani and Simione Kuruvoli, and first-five Teti Tela.
Fiji will be captained by La Rochelle star Levani Botia, who has been listed as a loose forward despite having played his entire test career as a midfielder.
Botia is joined by other headline names such as Lyon wing Josua Tuisova, Stade Francais midfielder Waisea Nayacalevu, Racing 92 first-five Ben Volavola, Castres midfielder Vilimoni Botitu and Western Force wing Manasa Mataele.
Among the notable absentees include Leicester Tigers wing Nemani Nadolo and Toulon lock Leone Nakarawa, while uncapped Moana Pasifika wing Timoci Tavatavanawai could be deemed as a major omission.
Tavatavanawai finished a stunning Super Rugby Pacific campaign with 73 defenders beaten, the most of any player in the competition and 17 more than the second-placed Habosi.
Star utility back Semi Radradra is also absent as one of eight frontline players – including Peceli Yato, Viliame Mata, Meli Derenalagi, Kitione Salawa, Vilive Miramira, Samu Tawake and Peni Ravai – who have been listed as unavailable due to injury.
Cotter said he was excited for the return of the Pacific Nations Cup, which has been revived for the first time since 2019, as Fiji continues its preparation for next year’s World Cup in France.
“The PNC series is extremely important for us. We’re playing at home for the first time in a long time, and we want to do well,” Cotter said via a statement.
“Tonga has already named a very strong squad with returning internationals, and we know that Samoa will do so as well.
“Australia A will send a good team of players who will have just missed out on selection for the Wallabies from Australian Super Rugby clubs who performed really well against the New Zealand sides this year.
“There’s good depth in Australian rugby as well and everyone is fighting to impress selectors.
“We also have our eyes on the bigger picture, and the PNC is an excellent opportunity for our players to put their hands up for selection for November’s Northern Tour where we play Scotland, Ireland and the French Barbarians.
“This is exactly the type of challenge we need in preparation for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.”
Fiji will open their Pacific Nations Cup campaign against Tonga in Suva on July 2 before they host Australia A and Samoa in Lautoka on July 9 and July 16, respectively.
Fiji squad for 2022 Pacific Nations Cup
Props: Mesake Doge (Dragons), Haereiti Hetet (Fijian Drua), Eroni Mawi (Saracens), Manasa Saulo (Fijian Drua), Luke Tagi (Provence)
Hookers: Mesulame Dolokoto (Fijian Drua), Tevita Kinavere (Fijian Drua), Sam Matavesi (Northampton Saints)
Locks: Temo Mayanavanua (Lyon), Isoa Nasilasila (Fijian Drua)*, Apisalome Ratuniyarawa (Northampton Saints), Tevita Ratuva (Brive), Ratu Leone Rotusolia (Fijian Drua)*
Loose Forwards: Levani Botia (La Rochelle, captain), Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta (Fijian Drua)*, Mesulame Kunavula (Edinburgh), Rusiate Nasove (Fijian Drua)*, Albert Tuisue (London Irish)
Halfbacks: Simione Kuruvoli (Fijian Drua), Frank Lomani (Fijian Drua), Peni Matawalu (Fijian Drua)*
First-Fives: Teti Tela (Fijian Drua), Ben Volavola (Racing 92)
Midfielders: Vilimoni Botitu (Castres), Waisea Nayacalevu (Stade Francais), Kalaveti Ravouvou (Fijian Drua)*, Seta Tamanivalu (Toshiba Brave Lupus)*, Apisalome Vota (Fijian Drua)*
Outside Backs: Ilaisa Droasese (Fijian Drua)*, Vinaya Habosi (Fijian Drua)*, Manasa Mataele (Western Force), Setareki Tuicuvu (Brive), Josua Tuisova (Lyon), Jiuta Wainiqolo (Toulon)
Comments on RugbyPass
Bell 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.
13 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 🤐
13 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….
13 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 💪
13 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
13 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.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to comments