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The Pacific Islands 'Lost XV' - Rugby World Cup edition

By Josh Raisey
Manu Tuilagi and Taniela Tupou are two of the most high profile players born on island but playing for other countries.

For years the Pacific Islands have provided the world with some of the best rugby players, but a problem that the nations have faced is keeping hold of their players.

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For a number of reasons, the likes Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have seen players leave their shores and represent other countries.

With that in mind, this is the Rugby World Cup squad of Pacific Island players that have been lost to other countries:

1 ISILELI NAKAJIMA (TONGA)

The Tongan-born Kobelco Steelers prop Nakajima went to university in Japan, and eventually made his debut for the Brave Blossoms last year at the age of 29.

Pacific Islands
Japan prop Isi Nakajima shakes hands with Ireland lock James Ryan. (Photo by Cameron Spencer / Getty Images)

2 TOLU LATU (TONGA)

Born in Tonga, but grew up in Australia, the New South Wales Waratahs hooker has become the first choice under Michael Cheika this RWC.

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3 TANIELA TUPOU (TONGA)

The ‘Tongan Thor’ was born in Tonga, grew up in New Zealand, but opted to represent Australia, where he displays his devastating power for the Queensland Reds.

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4 SÉBASTIEN VAHAAMAHINA (NEW CALEDONIA)

The French behemoth was born in New Caledonia, an overseas territory of the French Republic, but now plays for Clermont Auvergne and made his debut for France in 2012 as a 21-year-old.

Pacific Islands
Sebastien Vahaamahina

5 UWE HELU (TONGA)

The Sunwolves lock Helu was born in Tonga, raised in New Zealand but went to university in Tokyo, where he eventually became a Japanese citizen in 2016. He was swiftly called up to the Japanese squad by Jamie Joseph that year.

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6 ISI NAISARANI (FIJI)

Born and raised in Fiji, the Melbourne Rebels no8 only became eligible to represent the Wallabies in April this year due to a visa-related issue after moving to Australia in 2014. Since then, he has become an integral part of Cheika’s back row over the Rugby Championship and RWC.

7 SHANNON FRIZELL (TONGA)

The All Blacks flanker grew up in Tonga and represented their under-20s in the Junior World Rugby Trophy in 2014. Soon after he moved to New Zealand to play for Tasman and eventually the Highlanders.

8 AMANAKI MAFI (TONGA)

Japan’s bruising no8 originally played for Tonga’s under-20 side, but relocated to Japan to attend Hanazono University almost ten years ago. He was picked up by Eddie Jones in 2014 and has since been one of the main stars of the Brave Blossoms side.

Japan
Amanaki Mafi. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

9 WILL GENIA (BORN IN PNG)

The 108-cap veteran grew up in Papua New Guinea, moving to Brisbane at the age of 12, and has since played for the Queensland Reds, Stade Francais, the Melbourne Rebels, the Barbarians, as well as the Wallabies in a glittering career.

10 CHRISTIAN LEALIIFANO (*NZ)

We’ve had to cheat here. While not born on a Pacific Island, the Wallabies flyhalf was born in New Zealand of Samoan descent, but moved to Australia at the age of seven.

11 SEVU REECE (FIJI)

Born in Fiji but educated in Hamilton, New Zealand, there was much anticipation over who the 22-year-old would represent this year after a barnstorming season with the Crusaders. He opted for the All Blacks in July, and made the RWC squad in one of the most competitive positions.

12 MANU TUILAGI (SAMOA)

Part of a legendary dynasty where five of his brothers all played for Samoa, Manu moved to England at the age of 12, as three of his brothers were playing for Leicester Tigers at the time. He has lived in England since then, also becoming a British citizen.

13 TEVITA KURIDRANI (FIJI)

The Wallabies centre was born in Fiji, and is the cousin of recently retired Nemani Nadolo, but moved to Australia as a teenager, where he has gone on to play over 60 games in gold.

14 ALIVERETI RAKA (FIJI)

Having joined Clermont Auvergne’s academy in 2014, the 24-year-old Fijian-born winger qualified for France last December and only made his debut in the RWC warm-ups. But he has already shown a glimpse this tournament of what he will bring to Les Bleus over the coming years.

15 MARIKA KOROIBETE (FIJI)

Although not strictly a fullback, the Melbourne Rebels winger was born in Fiji and represented the island in rugby league. He was scouted as a teenager by the NRL and moved to Australia, where he has since switched codes and been part of the Wallabies for two years.

England’s group decider against France on Saturday has been cancelled due to the approach of Super Typhoon Hagibis in one of the most extraordinary days in 32 years of World Cup history. Statement with World Cup tournament director Alan Gilpin.

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Jon 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 11 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

44 Go to comments
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