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Mafi's international future up in the air


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If history is anything to go by, the international career of Japanese back rower Amanaki Mafi could well be over.

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One of Super Rugby’s best players in 2018, 28-year-old Mafi is currently waiting on an August court case in Dunedin, New Zealand after he was charged with assault with intent to injure following an incident with Melbourne Rebels teammate Lopeti Timani.

It is alleged that after Timani sent an insult in the direction of one of Mafi’s female relatives, the former was chased, tackled onto the ground and assaulted in the street.

Timani later said of the attack that he thought he was ‘going to die’.

Further reports of an alleged attack on Rebels teammate Marika Koroibete later emerged as well.

Both the Japan Rugby Football Union and the NTT Communications Shining Arcs – Mafi’s Top League team in Japan – have issued apologies and won’t make comment until the case is resolved.

Mafi’s charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, though his career may still be at risk even if charges are dropped.

In the past, Top League sides have been far from forgiving when players have found themselves in spots of trouble.

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Former Japan utility back Christian Loamanu was handed a life ban – lifted five years later – by the JRFU in 2009 after testing positive for cannabis following a Top League game.

Earlier this year, former Wallabies loose forward George Smith was released by the Suntory Sungoliath following an alleged incident with a taxi driver.

Given reports of the Dunedin incident involving Mafi and Timani and photos of the aftermath, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the back-rower missing from the national side when the Japan-hosted Rugby World Cup arrives in 2019.

A Japan Times source revealed that details of the events of the night are come out, but Mafi will no doubt be sweating on the imminent decision to be made by the JRFU and Shining Arcs.

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Phantom 32 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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