Fiji November international squad

[psychic duck]

Fiji have announced their extended November international squad. It is quite similar to the one which played Scotland in June, do you think this is strong enough to challenge England and Ireland in November and help restore pride in Fijian rugby after a dismal World Cup campaign which included a 49-3 defeat to South Africa, 27-7 defeat to Samoa and worst of all a 66-0 thumping by Wales.

Looseheads:
Campese Ma'afu (

Cardiff Blues)
Vesi Rarawa

Hookers:
Seremaia Naureure
Vili Veikoso
Tuapati Talemaitoga (

Southland)

Tightheads:
Setefano Somoca
Deacon Manu (

Scarlets)
Pen Makutu
Manasa Saulo

Locks:
Leone Nakarawa
Tevita Cavubati
Api Naikatini (

Toyota Verblitz)
Seko Kalou
Apisalome Ratuniyarawa

Flankers:
Iliesa Ratuva
Malakai Ravulo (

North Harbour)
Josefa Domolailai (

Pau)
Nemani Nagusa

Number 8's:
Netani Talei (

Edinburgh)
Waqabaca Kotobalavu

Scrum Halves:
Nikola Matawalu (

Glasgow)
Nemia Kenatale (

Highlanders)
Kelemedi Bola

Fly Halves:
Jonetani Ralulu

Centres:
Ravai Fatiaki (

Worcester)
Josaia Lotawa

Wingers:
Maikeli Mocetadra
Watisoni Votu (

Exeter)
Vereniki Goneva (

Leicester)
Timoci Matanavou (

Toulouse)
Samu Wara (

Western Force)
Simeli Koniferedi
Waisea Nayacalevu (

Stade Français)
Aisea Natoga

Full Backs:
Metuisela Talebula (

Bordeaux-Bègles)
Josh Matavesi (

Worcester)

 

[Tonga_rugby]

From Panet Rugby
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9817_8132706,00.html

Fiji duo unavailable for European tour

Fiji wing Noa Nakaitaci and full-back Vereimi Vakatawa have made themselves unavailable for their country's end-of-year rugby tour to Europe, citing commitments to their French clubs.
Coach Inoke Male said he had offered the young players places in the Fiji squad for the tour but they had declined. Nakaitaci plays for Clermont and Vakatawa for Racing-Metro in the Top 14 competition.
Fiji coaching director Franck Boivert is unhappy with the duo's decision.
"It' disappointing that two of our young players have turned down the offer (to play for Fiji)," he said.
Fiji will play England on November 10, Gloucester on November 13, Ireland A on November 17 and Georgia on November 24.
Under IRB regulations, clubs are not required to release their players until the days leading up to the England match

A good Question:
Are either of them previously capped by Fiji or are they holding out for the chance to represent France later on based on residency?

 

[londonderryrugby]

Kameli Ratuvou from Saracens
Jerry Yanuyanuwata from London Irish
Napolioni Nalaga from Clermont
Sireli Naqelevuki from ExeterAkapusi Qera from Gloucester
Seru Rabeni from Bordeaux
Sisa Koyamaibole from Grenoble
Isa Nacewa from Leinster
Waisea Luveniyali from Sale
Gabiriele Lovobalavu from Toulon

Dominiko Waqaniburotu
Kini Murimurivalu from Toulouse
Timoci Nagusa from Montpellier

Suprise suprise that none of these guys are in the squad!!! Especially Mr.Nacewa!!!

 

[Tonga_rugby]

Suprise suprise that none of these guys are in the squad!!! Especially Mr.Nacewa!!!

revenge?

http://www.fijirugby.com/pages.cfm/fru-news/?section=2011&newsid=nacewa-qovu-out-of-rwc-

Another susprise:
Qovu (Racing Metro)
Matadigo (Racing Metro)
Lewaravu (Mont de Marsan)
Luveniyali (Newcastle)
Rokobaro (Rebels)
Qera (Gloucester)
Nemani (Chiefs)
Tikoirotuma (Chiefs)
...

 

[irelandfan123]

i know this question has been answered alot but why hasn't rupeni caucaunibuca played more for fiji?

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Why haven't the likes of Nalaga and Lovobalavu been picked, considering they're playing games inside the test window, so they must be available?

 

[LittleGuy]

This could get ugly, I honestly have no idea why Fiji were given such a good schedule, their performances as of late certainly have not justified them, while Georgia and Canada were left with the scraps of the November test window.

 

[04perryo]

Matavesi is going to tear it up at full back though

 

[Toko_11]

This could get ugly, I honestly have no idea why Fiji were given such a good schedule, their performances as of late certainly have not justified them, while Georgia and Canada were left with the scraps of the November test window.

Are you surprised ? if I recall correctly Its not the first time our teams have been neglected....


lets play a game of who's missing more players..
November is approaching and we as usual start losing ruggers... this year the "sorry list" was opened by Dimitry Basilaia of Edinburgh, Kakovin and Bregvadze will miss the games as well.. who will be next?!

 

[Muzzy]

Its a shame Yanuyanutawa and Daveta aren't in the team, they were the best props I've seen for Fiji in a long time. They dominated Samoa and Japans scrum and thats the first time I've been able to say that about a Fijian scrum. They didn't do well against Scotlands scrum but I think it was the way the ref was calling it. They changed the front row against Tonga and Tonga dominated them until they brought Yanuyanutawa on.

Other than that I think the squad should do okay IF the forwards play well

Edit: Kenatale, Talei and Qovu are out because of injury, Matadigo might be brought in as a replacement for Qovu

http://www.fijilive.com/sports/rugb...enatale-ruled-out-of-euro-tour/29448.Fijilive

 

[London_Italian]

It's a real shame that Fiji havn't picked their strongest side. Is there more the IRB could do to make sure players pick their countries over their clubs during international windows?

 

[Muzzy]

Qera, Naqelevuki and Ratuvou have joined the team, Qera's replacing Matadigo and Ratuvou is replacing Nayacalevu who are injured, but apparently Qera is only going to be playing in one game for them against England, so Qera could end up playing against Fiji, when Fiji play Gloucester. Seems like these clubs have them by the balls smh

http://www.fijilive.com/sports/rugby/news/2012/11/fiji-call-up-qera-for-england-clash/29559.Fijilive

Another interesting article:

'Blackmail' thread to World Cup: clubs pay players not to appear

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-clubs-pay-players-not-to-appear-8282961.html

The 2015 Rugby World Cup in England risks being devalued by European clubs preventing players from Fiji and other Pacific nations from representing their countries.
That is the stark warning from a leading players' representative following new claims that the integrity of previous tournaments, notably the 2011 event in New Zealand, was compromised by the participation of weakened teams.

England – who play Fiji on Saturday – are preparing to host the World Cup for the first time since 1991 and, with it once again overlapping the European domestic season, the practice among some clubs of offering financial incentives to Pacific Islanders to ignore their countries' call could mean Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are deprived of key players in rugby's global showpiece.

Nicky Little, the former Fiji fly-half who has played club rugby in five European countries, describes the practice as "blackmail". A former coach of French club Racing Métro has claimed three Fijian players were offered financial inducements not to take part in the last World Cup, while other clubs are also understood to have tried to dissuade Pacific Islanders from turning out for their country.

Damien Hopley, the International Rugby Players' Association chairman, said: "The IRB [International Rugby Board] are aware of this practice. It is imperative that the World Cup is defined by the best playing against the best.

"We look forward to receiving a formal response to a problem that is threatening the integrity of this fantastic competition."
The IRB has rules in place – in regulation nine – that forbid clubs from offering any form of disincentive, either through "contract or conduct", to players to represent their country, but critics say the sport's governing body has shown little appetite to enforce it.
"For many seasons, European and UK-based Islanders have either been blackmailed not to play for their countries, or had pay docked when they were with their national teams," said Little, who represented Fiji in four World Cups.

Rob Nichol, chief executive of the IRPA, said: "We have been made aware of various situations where this kind of thing has happened but the players concerned haven't wanted to take it to the next level. If clubs can circumnavigate regulation nine, they will – and international rugby is the worse for it."
The IRB has yet to investigate allegations made by Simon Mannix, a former All Black and coach of Racing Métro, that Fijians at his club were paid to make themselves unavailable for the 2011 World Cup in order to play in the French Top 14. Mannix, who coached the Parisian club from 2006 until last November, said: "Racing Métro had Fijians who declined to go to the World Cup … because the club gave them a cheque if they stayed here [in Paris]."

The IRB responded that it can only take action if a complaint is received. A statement read: "The IRB can only act on player release issues if requested to do so by a union or if it is provided with credible evidence that would allow it to pursue its own enquiry."

The Racing players declined to play for Fiji in the 2011 Pacific Nations Cup, effectively ruling themselves out of World Cup selection: Sireli Bobo and Jone Qovu, both still under contract with the Parisian club, cited "personal reasons" while Josh Matavesi, now at Worcester, said he wanted to focus on club commitments. The Racing Métro president, Jacky Lorenzetti, denied the club have made any illegal payments or broken any regulations.

Fiji are not the only team that may have suffered. The Northampton lock Samu Manoa, of Tongan descent but capped by the US Eagles, was unavailable at the last World Cup. Last year, the United States coach, Eddie O'Sullivan, said this was because "a clause in his contract prevents him from travelling to RWC". Northampton deny this. A club spokesman said: "There is no clause in his contract preventing him playing international rugby; it was Samu's choice not to go to New Zealand with the USA."