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Boudjellal takes to Twitter to spark speculation Toulon have signed a Fijian Olympic medal winner

Masivesi Dakuwaqa Fiji

A Mourad Boudjellal tweet has left Toulon fans wondering if the French club owner has made a 2016 Olympic medal winner with Fiji his latest signing.  

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It emerged on Thursday that the eccentric Top 14 club boss has been in negations with a sevens star, but no name was mentioned at time.

However, Boudjellal took to Twitter on Friday night and posted an action video of Masivesi Dakuwaqa, a member of the Fiji team that were crowned Olympic sevens champion at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

Nearly two years ago, in May 2017, hot had been announced that Dakuwaqa had switched codes to league and signed with NRL outfit, the Canberra Raiders. 

He then moved to Western Force for their debut season in World Series Rugby and left the Australia side’s coach, Tim Sampson, singing the praises of the Fijian who overcame a childhood eye injury to forge a professional career in rugby.

“It’s amazing. He suffered a freak accident some years back,” said Sampson in interviews following Dakuwaqa’s debut in the wing in June last year. “For him to showcase the skills that he dishes up is pretty impressive considering.

“It’s something he’s gotten used to over the years. You wouldn’t know (he’s blind in one eye) looking at how he plays. He’s a breath of fresh air for us. He’s very popular amongst the squad.

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“He adds a different dynamic to the side with his size and speed. He’s someone who I think will develop into a quality player.”

Masivesi Dakuwaqa gives a thumbs-up from the Western Force dressing room (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The 25-year-old, who tips the scales at 105kgs, featured in the Force’s Rugby Asia Showcase Series game against the South China Tigers on March 29 but we missing from Friday night’s win over Asia Pacific Dragons in Perth. 

If the winger is signed by Boudjellal, his arrival would compensate for the departures of Josua Tuisova in Lyon and Filipo Nakosi to Castres.

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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