Waisea Nayacalevu makes drastic position switch on debut for new club

Former Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu will make his debut for Rugby Olympique de Grasse, but in an unusual role: at no.8 for the Fédérale 2 club.

Nayacalevu left Nissa Rugby after helping the club secure promotion to the Pro D2, scoring three tries in 11 appearances for the southeastern French side. However, when his centre contract wasn’t renewed, he was free to find a new club, and RO Grasse stepped in, signing the Fijian legend for an undisclosed number of seasons.

Fédérale 2 is the fifth tier of French club rugby, sitting below the Top 14, Pro D2, Nationale and Fédérale 1, and is a predominantly amateur competition, although some clubs also field semi-professional players.

After missing the opening game of Pool 3 of Fédérale 2, the Fijian international will make his official debut for the club, but as a member of the forward pack.

This will be the first time Nayacalevu will feature in that position, having mostly played at centre or on the wing.

The Fijian began his pro career at Stade Français, where he stayed from 2013 to 2022 and won an EPCR Challenge Cup in 2017.

He switched Top 14 clubs in 2022, joining RC Toulon on a two-year deal before brief spells with Sale Sharks and the Ospreys. As for his Test match career, he debuted in 2012, scoring a try in Fiji’s 25-19 win over Japan. With more than 35 caps for Fiji, Nayacalevu featured in three Men’s Rugby World Cups, adding four tries and 10 appearances to his legacy.

The centre last played for the Flying Fijians in 2024, when Ireland hosted the Pacific Island nation at Aviva Stadium, with Fiji conceding a 52-17 defeat.

As for his new life with RO Grasse, the club had a positive start to its Fed 2 campaign, winning against Avignon le Pontet Rugby in the competition’s first round.