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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
It 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.
25 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….
25 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….
82 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!
1 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
12 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 commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments