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Racing 92 have finally issued a statement regarding the absent Leone Nakarawa

By Liam Heagney
Fiji's Leone Nakarawa wins a lineout against Australia at the World Cup (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Racing 92 have confirmed they have “provisionally laid off” Leone Nakarawa following the Fijian player’s failure to report for club duty in France following the World Cup in Japan. 

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It has been claimed that Nakarawa is still in Fiji building a house for his family. However, he was not given permission for an extended leave of absence and has now been struck off the Racing playing roster ahead of their Champions Cup campaigns which starts next Sunday at home to defending champions Saracens. 

In a brief statement published on the club’s website, Racing said: “Racing 92 have provisionally laid off Leone Nakarawa and summoned him to an interview prior to a possible sanction. The club will make no further comments about this decision.”

The second row – one of the highest earners at Racing – was part of the Fijian side eliminated from the World Cup when beaten by Wales on October 9, but he has since failed to report back for club duty with the Parisians.

Nakarawa played in all four of his country’s pool matches at the finals in Japan and was expected to pitch up in France for training in the last week of October. However, there has been no sign yet of a player regarded to be one of the best in the world in his position.

(Continue reading below…)

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Despite a Pacific Rugby Welfare tweet last week insisting the club knows what Nakarawa is up to in Fiji, the situation has not played out well with the Parisians. 

Prior to last weekend’s Top 14 derby win over Stade Francais, boss Laurent Travers said: “He [Nakarawa] must resume. We have news, yes, the players have had. I think the club too but now, for the moment he is not present at Racing 92. We do not know more.” 

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All the French-based players who were with countries eliminated at the end of the pool stages of the World Cup were generally due to be back training with their clubs by Monday, October 28, except in the case of injury.

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Trevor 6 minutes 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 4 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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