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Wallabies hold on to Fijian born 6'5, 110kg rising star Naisarani


Naisarani picks up Australia's top Super Rugby award
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Rising star Isi Naisarani has re-signed with Rugby Australia and the Melbourne Rebels until the end of 2021 on a new two-year deal.

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The 24-year old has established himself as a mainstay of the Melbourne Rebels back-row during this year’s Vodafone Super Rugby campaign and is eligible for a Qantas Wallabies debut this year.

Originally from Fiji, Naisarani moved to Brisbane in 2014 where he progressed from Queensland Premier Rugby with Souths, to the National Rugby Championship, before starring for the Western Force and the Brumbies.

Melbourne Rebels backrower, Isi Naisarani said: “I’m excited to re-sign with the Melbourne Rebels and Australian Rugby.

“I grew up loving the Wallabies and now to be here in my adopted country, and at a great and ambitious club is a dream come true.

“Continuing my Rugby journey in Melbourne is now the plan and I am just focusing on working as hard as I can for the Melbourne Rebels and our fans to see where that journey takes us.”

Qantas Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said: “I’m really pleased for Isi and for Australian Rugby that he’s committed for another two years. He’s an exciting prospect for us and from speaking to him, he’s clearly very passionate about his team mates and about Australian Rugby.

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“He’s a talented player for sure, but one thing that impresses me about Isi is his personal commitment to bettering himself as a player, asking questions and not being afraid to make a mistake in order to learn from it,” Cheika said.

Naisarani will be hoping to lead the Melbourne Rebels to a maiden Vodafone Super Rugby finals appearance this season, as they sit second in the Australian Conference with three rounds remaining.

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Phantom 36 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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