How Charles Piutau can still play for Tonga despite missing out on national sevens squad
Despite missing out on playing at this weekend’s Olympic qualification tournament, not all hope is lost for ex-All Blacks star Charles Piutau’s dream of playing international rugby for Tonga.
Last week, former All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa made headlines when it was confirmed he will complete an international switch of allegiance by turning out for Tonga’s national sevens side at the Final Olympic Qualification Tournament in Monaco this weekend.
Although he accrued 24 test caps for the All Blacks between 2014 and 2017, Fekitoa is now eligible to play for the nation of his birth because he holds a Tongan passport and has stood down from international rugby for three years.
If an internationally-capped player, either at XV-a-side or sevens level, meets that criteria, they are eligible to play for their second nation at the Olympics or in an Olympic qualifying event.
That then makes that player eligible to play test rugby for their second nation, which means Fekitoa is in line to turn out for the ‘Ikale Tahi later this year.
However, Piutau, who was widely linked to make an international switch of allegiance six years after his last test for the All Blacks, missed out on the chance to play for Tonga this weekend due to his commitments with his club side Bristol Bears.
Bristol have qualified for the Premiership play-offs and are playing their semi-final against Harlequins this weekend, making Piutau unavailable to play for Tonga in Monaco.
With participation in Olympic sevens events the only way a player can transfer from one country to another, this weekend’s tournament was deemed vital for Piutau’s eligibility change as the next available window to make the switch was thought to be the 2023 Oceania Sevens Championship, by which point Piutau will be 31-years-old.
That isn’t the case, though, as Tonga sevens manager Richard Weightman confirmed to RNZ that Piutau could still turn out for the national sevens side at next month’s Olympics if they win this weekend’s tournament.
“You wish a guy like that all the well with the playoffs and [if we win in Monaco and] we make the Olympics in Japan and all of a sudden he’s got the opportunity to wear the red jersey and be at the 2023 World Cup,” Weightman said.
The men’s sevens competition at the Tokyo Games is scheduled to run between the 26-28 July, during which time Piutau will have no club commitments.
Given his lengthy spell away from international rugby, and the fact he holds a Tongan passport, Piutau would be available to represent Tonga at the Olympics should they emerge victorious at Stade Louis II.
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In order to do that, Tonga will have to finish in the top two of their group – which also features Samoa, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Mexico – and then beat any one of France, Hong Kong, Chile, Uganda or Jamaica in the following semi-final.
Victory in the final would rubber-stamp Tonga’s ticket to Tokyo, which would then give Piutau the chance to play for his nation of heritage.
The 17-test international’s presence in the Tongan sevens set-up would not only boost the country’s chances of an unlikely medal finish at the Olympics, but it would also be immense for the ‘Ikale Tahi leading into the 2023 World Cup.
With the ‘Ikale Tahi already set to reap the rewards of Fekitoa’s switch, Toutai Kefu’s squad would become a genuine force to be reckoned with at rugby’s global showpiece event in two years’ time if Piutau was able to be selected.
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In addition to Fekitoa, Tonga also have ex-Wallabies utility forward Lopeti Timani in their ranks for this weekend’s tournament.
Former All Blacks Sevens representative Tima Fainga’anuku – the older brother of Crusaders star Leicester – and ex-Australian sevens star Afusipa Taumoepeau have also been named in the squad.
It means all four players will be available to play test rugby for Tonga this year, although none of them will be in contention to play the All Blacks and Samoa next month due to New Zealand’s quarantine restrictions.
Nevertheless, Weightman is optimistic about what the new influx of established talent means the future of Tongan rugby.
“Some of the challenge of getting European players into New Zealand – again because of the MIQ situation – has opened the door for some of our sevens players that hopefully will be named in the ‘Ikale Tahi squad when it’s named later, so one door might close [but] another one opens.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Can’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
1 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to commentsSpot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
6 Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
8 Go to commentsGood riddance
1 Go to commentswel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
6 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
6 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
6 Go to comments