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Fiji may be forced to play Georgia at neutral venue on European tour

Nemani Nadolo /PA

Vern Cotter’s Flying Fijians may have to play Georgia at a neutral venue due to COVID-19 rules on a European tour that will also see then face Wales and Spain with a squad likely to be missing players based in the Southern Hemisphere.

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Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer John O’Connor has revealed the end-of-year Test match schedule and accepted travel and quarantine restrictions would shape the squad. “The November rugby Test matches are confirmed,” said O’Connor. “We will be playing three Test matches against quality opponents being Spain, Wales and Georgia. The FRU is currently working on the logistics and we are seeking solutions to ensure a strong outfit is assembled in anticipation of three rugged Test matches.”

O’Connor said the bulk of the squad head coach Cotter would be operating with is to come from European-based players to alleviate the stringent COVID-19 protocols and Tonga and Samoa are facing similar selection restrictions for their Autumn matches. “We might have to overlook for some players playing in New Zealand and Australia because of the mandatory 14-day quarantine period. We are keeping our options open:” added O’Connor. “The majority of the Flying Fijians team will be from the Northern Hemisphere though.”

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Fiji have a large contingent of key players operating in Europe’s top leagues with the French Top 14 featuring the likes of Josua Tuisova, Waisea Nayacalevu, Peceli Yato, Levani Botia, Tevita Ratuva , Ben Volavola, Olympic Games gold medallist Jiuta Wainiqolo and Leone Nakarawa .

O’Connor told Fiji Times the Test match in Georgia would only proceed pending World Rugby’s approval because the European nation is in the red zone of the COVID-19 pandemic.“We might play the Georgians at a neutral venue, however, World Rugby will advise us accordingly.”

Fiji will play Spain on November 6 in Spain at a venue and time to be decided by World Rugby, then Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on November 14 followed by Georgia.

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S
SK 43 minutes ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.

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J
JW 6 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Yep, no one knows what will happen. Thing is I think (this is me arguing a point here not a random debate with this one) they're better off trialing it now in a controlled environment than waiting to open it up in a knee jerk style reaction to a crumbling organtization and team. They can always stop it again.


The principle idea is that why would players leave just because the door is ajar?


BBBR decides to go but is not good enough to retain the jersey after doing it. NZ no longer need to do what I suggest by paying him to get back upto speed. That is solely a concept of a body that needs to do what I call pick and stick wth players. NZR can't hold onto everyone so they have to choose their BBBRs and if that player comes back from a sabbatical under par it's a priority to get him upto speed as fast as possible because half of his competition has been let go overseas because they can't hold onto them all. Changing eligibility removes that dilemma, if a BBBR isn't playing well you can be assured that someone else is (well the idea is that you can be more assured than if you only selected from domestic players).


So if someone decides they want to go overseas, they better do it with an org than is going to help improve them, otherwise theyre still basically as ineligible as if they would have been scorning a NZ Super side that would have given them the best chance to be an All Black.

147 Go to comments
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