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Vakatawa could return to Test rugby in 2025
Virimi Vakatawa, the former France centre, could be on the cusp of a remarkable return to the Test arena as early as 2025.
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Vakatawa’s journey to this potential comeback has been nothing short of extraordinary. In 2022, the rugby world was shocked when it was revealed at a press conference helmed by Fabien Galthie that the exceptional attacking talent had been withdrawn from Test rugby due to a heart condition, a setback that effectively ended his France career.
His future in rugby hung in the balance, with uncertainty shrouding any further involvement in the game for the New Zealand-born winger.
However, as initially revealed by RugbyPassBristol sign ex France international Virimi Vakatawa, Vakatawa made a triumphant return to international rugby earlier this summer, donning the famous Barbarians jersey in a one-off clash in Brive against Samoa in a Rugby World Cup warm-up.
The fairy tale continued when it was announced this week that Vakatawa had inked a deal with Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears, marking his return to the professional rugby circuit via the Gallagher Premiership a little over a year after it appeared to be all over.
Now, World Rugby’s relatively new regulations have opened an intriguing door for Vakatawa. Under these rules, a player can represent the country of their ancestry provided they haven’t played for the nation they first declared for in three years. Vakatawa’s last appearance for France was in 2022 against Japan, placing him within the eligibility window for Fiji in June 2025.
Should Vakatawa choose to declare for Fiji, and should he be selected, it would be a homecoming of epic proportions and a boon for Fiji’s national team.
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The question is however: could Vakatawa – who will be 33 in 2025 – make it back into the star-studded Fijian backline that currently includes the likes of Semi Radradra, Josua Tuisova and Waisea Nayacalevu?
Nayacalevu will be 35 in 2025 while Radradra will be 33, the same age as Vakatawa, so age isn’t exactly on his side but nor does it rule him out.
Any theoretical Vakatawa accession into the team also doesn’t factor in the conveyor belt of talent that the Fijiian rugby has become, with Pacific Super Rugby side Fijian Drua already producing a number of talented and powerful rookies that will be eager to step into the boots left by any departing stars, not to mention the Sevens pathway that continues to develop superstars with crossover potential.
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Whatever Vakatawa decides in regards to Test rugby, a theoretical stint for the Flying Fijians – if selected – would certainly be a romantic notion for rugby fans.
Comments on RugbyPass
Great try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
3 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
5 Go to commentsAlways reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
3 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
5 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
5 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to comments