Fekitoa set to make Tonga switch.

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Former All Blacks star set to play for Tonga

The former gun midfielder was part of the All Blacks 2015 World Cup team.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[TRF_Olyy]

 

[Geordie]

Would that then make him eligible to play for Tonga in the 15's?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Yes

 

[BPM]

Fair play to him. Easily young enough to represent Tonga well in 2023.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I'm over worrying about stuff like this, it's not going to suddenly make Tonga world beaters, if makes their games against tier one team more competitive then all good

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I'm happy with it TBH.
Tongan born.
Played for Tonga 7's, like a lot of PI players got offered a scholarship to a NZ private school.
Last cap was 4 years ago.

 

[BiggusLaddus]

I don't like this route because it discriminates against the fat lads who can't play sevens.

 

[Which Tyler]

I don't like this route because it discriminates against the fat lads who can't play sevens.

Didn't stop Steffan threatening to exploit it to become French.

Of course, he backed down immediately when the RFU called his bluff

 

[BPM]

I don't like this route because it discriminates against the fat lads who can't play sevens.

A joke, but also true

 

[RedruthRFC]

I'm over worrying about stuff like this, it's not going to suddenly make Tonga world beaters, if makes their games against tier one team more competitive then all good

What was the worry in the first place?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I honestly don't understand how anyone can be in favour of things like this

No one put a gun to his head to play for, and win a world cup with, the all blacks

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I honestly don't understand how anyone can be in favour of things like this

No one put a gun to his head to play for, and win a world cup with, the all blacks

True.
But I also think that you have to look at the world differently in these situations.

Tonga GDP per person is $5,000
11 years ago when Fekitoa was 18 it was $3.3K.
Back then it was unheard of players making these massive amounts. Hell the 2003 rugby World Cup a large chunk of the pacific island teams were amateurs.
No one forced him too but the economic pressures shouldn't be underestimated.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I honestly don't understand how anyone can be in favour of things like this

No one put a gun to his head to play for, and win a world cup with, the all blacks

True but I've come around to bugger it this is a game

What was the worry in the first place?

worry might not be the right word…care might be better, I probably would it it was a tier one nation

 

[Umaga's Witness]

I cant remember what the point in the one country rule was supposed to be but i doubt it was supposed to stop a tongan from playing for tonga.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Representative two different countries is just stupid. If anything this rule will encourage more people to take that quick New Zealand cap rather than wait and see.

I just can't get my head around the current international teams that are slowly becoming a farce and now this.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Representative two different countries is just stupid. If anything this rule will encourage more people to take that quick New Zealand cap rather than wait and see.

I just can't get my head around the current international teams that are slowly becoming a farce and now this.

For pacific islanders It wont change their decision at all. A pretty easy decision to make your village far richer than its ever been.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Representative two different countries is just stupid. If anything this rule will encourage more people to take that quick New Zealand cap rather than wait and see.

I just can't get my head around the current international teams that are slowly becoming a farce and now this.

Nobody waits and sees if their PI country is going to call them up if the abs offer you a cap, name anyone that's turned down an ab cap?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Nobody waits and sees if their PI country is going to call them up if the abs offer you a cap, name anyone that's turned down an ab cap?

How would anyone know if someone had turned down a cap? They don't announce it live on tv do they?

 

[Kiwiwomble]

How would anyone know if someone had turned down a cap? They don't announce it live on tv do they?

they do, lots of all blacks only find they've made the squad when its announced, Brad thorn had to publicly make himself available for the ABs because he was thinking about going back to league and didn;t feel he'd earned his spot, Liam squire publicly turned down a spot because he didn't feel his mental health was right for the extra workload