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Super Rugby club emerges as shock contender to sign Fijian lock Leone Nakarawa following sacking from Racing 92

By Online Editors
Leone Nakarawa in action for Fiji Sevens. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images for HSBC)

The Waratahs have emerged as shock contenders to sign star lock Leone Nakarawa following the Fijian’s sacking from Top 14 club Racing 92.

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Nakarawa was fired from the Paris-based club on Friday after returning two weeks late from the World Cup in Japan as he had returned to Fiji to help construct a new family home following his country’s pool stage elimination in October. 

An attendee of three World Cups and a member of Fiji’s Olympic gold medal-winning sevens side of 2016, Nakarawa is widely regarded as one of the world’s premier second-rowers.

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Subsequently, his newfound free agency has reportedly made him a target for numerous clubs in England and Scotland, but media reports in France have also included the Waratahs as a potential new destination for the 31-year-old.

Rugby.com.au is also reporting that the New South Wales Super Rugby side have made contact with the Fijian’s management team about the possibility of bringing the move to fruition.

The Waratahs would not be able to match the significant financial sums that will inevitably be thrown Nakarawa’s way by European clubs, but it is believed that the 62-cap international is interested in testing himself in Super Rugby – a competition of which he has never played in.

Also working in the Waratahs’ favour is that there is a favourable window whereby Nakarawa could play for one season in Australia next year before returning to the northern hemisphere in August ahead of the 2020-21 domestic season.

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New Waratahs head coach Rob Penney has spoken of his desire of recruiting barnstorming ball-carriers, and Nakarawa would fit that bill given his damaging offloading ability and impressive athleticism.

However, incoming Wallabies boss Dave Rennie could provide stern competition for the Waratahs, as the current Glasgow Warriors head coach is eager on bringing Nakarawa back to the club he played for over three seasons before moving to France in 2016.

As European player of the year in 2018, Nakarawa’s services are clearly in demand worldwide, but Racing’s patience wore thin with their star man after he took an extended break from his club duties and missed two matches.

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“This decision, taken in consultation with the sporting director of the club, follows on from the proven disciplinary manoeuvres of Nakarawa who, in particular, did not show up at the resumption of the training programme on October 28,” the club said in a statement.

“Nakarara, moreover, refused to answer the messages that the club addressed to him after having noted his unjustified absence and was willing to fix the date of his return.

“His abandonment of his post for more than two weeks has been a serious prejudice to Racing… moreover, it is a deplorable example for Racing players as his title of best player in the 2018 European Cup should have encouraged him to be exemplary.

“At Racing, the only star is the team and the individualistic attitude of Nakarawa is inconceivable. It indicates a total lack of team spirit and a characterised insubordination. In the interests of preserving the institution of Racing, this decision of rupture was imperative.”

The move to axe the 1.98m, 109kg lock means Racing are now short on second-row options, with only 35-year-old Irish international Donnacha Ryan, former All Black Dominic Bird and young Frenchman Boris Palu, as well as French international Bernard Le Roux, who usually plays in the back row, remaining at the club.

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Bull Shark 2 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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