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Fiji could fly Bristol's Semi Radradra direct to Olympic Games

(Photo by Ashley Western/MB Media/Getty Images)

Fiji rugby chief John O’Connor has revealed they are prepared to fly Bristol centre Semi Radradra direct to Japan to ensure he can help defend the island nation’s Olympic Gold sevens medal in Tokyo.

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Negotiations, as RugbyPass revealed last week, are ongoing with Bristol and two other European rugby clubs in a bid to get players released with Castres’ Vilimoni Botitu and Pau’s Aminiasi Tuimaba also targeted for inclusion in the final squad for the Games. Fiji’s seven squad is currently in quarantine in Brisbane before taking part in a tournament in Townsville. The plan is then to fly directly to Japan from Australia for the Games.

Radradra is currently attempting to help Bristol win the Gallagher Premiership title with the play-off final being staged at Twickenham on June 26.

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O’Connor, Chief executive officer at Fiji Rugby Union, told the Fiji Times: “We are considering the option of whether we fly him (Radradra) to Australia or direct to Japan. He will be in camp with the rest of the boys chosen before the final selection of the Fiji men’s 7s team for the Olympics.

“We are considering all the best available options presently because the idea is to ‘bring back the gold from Tokyo’ so in order to achieve that mission, only the best players will don the white jersey with the coconut tree emblem. Nothing is finalised at the moment and we are keeping our fingers crossed.

“We are considering the likelihood of some overseas-based players joining the team in Australia. We are still having discussions on that at the moment.The likelihood of Aminiasi Tuimaba and Vilimoni Botitu joining camp is in the air however details are not finalised at the moment.

“We are currently having discussions with their respective clubs on their release.

“The head coach will make the final decision regarding the duo’s final inclusion in the team if they do make an appearance pertaining to their match fitness in the 7s code.”

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Fiji will face Australia and New Zealand plus one other team in a three-day PacificAus Sport Oceania 7s tournament at Townsville Stadium scheduled from June 25-27.

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S
SK 39 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.

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