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Nakarawa's sacking has fans of other European clubs pleading for him to join them

By Josh Raisey

06 Dec 2019

Leone Nakawara is a player in demand after being released by Racing (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

It is not very often that one of the best players in the world in their position is released mid-season by a club, but Racing 92 have decided to terminate Leone Nakarawa’s contract.

The Fijian lock was late to report back to his club after the World Cup and while it looked as though the situation had blown over, the Parisians have decided to sever ties with the 2018 European player of the year.

It is unlikely, however, that the 31-year-old will be without a club for long, as any club in world rugby would want him in their ranks.

The Olympic gold-winning sevens player plays with typical Fijian flair despite his considerable frame and has truly established himself as one of the world’s premier offloaders of the ball.

There is very rarely a situation where the 6ft 6in lock cannot free his arms in contact and distribute the ball – and that is what makes him so dangerous.

Consequently, fans from all over Europe are pleading their case for Nakarawa to join their club.

On his way to Manchester ?????
— Tommy Tea Pot (@Pippo1973) December 6, 2019

Sooo Nakarawa is a free agent
Cardiff Blues need a second row
We’d better start a go fund me
— South Terracer (@TerracerSouth) December 6, 2019

If only Leicester could snap him up, he would be a real game changer to any club he joins next.
— Harry Goward (@GowardHarry) December 6, 2019

You want to see him playing in a side that his style suits, which is very much Bristol. I mean, if the Bears did sign Nakarawa, everyone may as well go home and the trophy can be handed to them now. ????? https://t.co/9mQKVFTzzr
— Marcello Cossali-Francis (@Mcossalifrancis) December 6, 2019

Leone Nakarawa sacked.
Connacht looking for second-row cover.
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
— Daragh Small (@daraghs0) December 6, 2019

However, perhaps the most compelling cases seem to be from Bristol Bears fans, who feel Nakarawa would suit the style of rugby that Pat Lam is endorsing in the west of England.

With compatriot Semi Radradra having already signed at Ashton Gate ahead of next season and Charles Piutau extending his contract, Bristol looks like the place to play and Nakarawa would complete some unbelievable business for the Bears over the past few weeks.

@Munsterrugby
Sign Nakarawa
Please and thanks
— K?tie (@katie_brennan98) December 6, 2019

.@GlasgowWarriors and the SRU board hearing that Nakarawa has been sacked by Racing
HWFG
https://t.co/LohxkX1nY9
— Thistle Scottish Rugby Podcast (@thistlerugbypod) December 6, 2019

Nakarawa sacked minutes before @SaleSharksRugby team announcement ?
— Simon Holman (@SimonHolman9) December 6, 2019

Glasgow Warriors fans also want to see the Fijian return to Scotstoun where he started his career in the northern hemisphere in 2013, playing there for three years.

Bath could do with him. Light on second rows. Imagine him and mercer playing together. Offload city
— Scrum365 (@Scrum365) December 6, 2019

We'll have him at Leinster not a problem. Slot Nakarawa in with Ryan in the second row
— James Marchant (@SGT_MARCHANT) November 5, 2019

https://twitter.com/Pugoramma/status/1202934986397143042

Nakarawa will go somewhere and it will be announced very soon, in turn boosting one club’s fortunes considerably with so much of the northern hemisphere club season still to be played.

WATCH: Nadolo, the RugbyPass documentary on the life and times of Fijian legend Nemani Nadolo

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Comments on RugbyPass

GrahamVF 45 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

500k registered players in SA are scoolgoers and 90% of them don't go on to senior club rugby. SA is fed by having hundreds upon hundreds of schools that play rugby - school rugby is an institution of note in SA - but as I say for the vast majority when they leave school that's it.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 51 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

There is a continued murmur in local circles about reciprocal bi annual tours between SA and Argentine. Whether it's full blooded test tours or development tours or a mixture - ie touring with a "test" 20 and a development 20 the cream of which will be used in tests. We actually really enjoy playing the Argies and I believe they enjoy playing us. It goes back seventy years to the Junior Bok tours to Argentine involving Isaac van Heerden.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 59 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

About 500K of those are schoolboys 90% of which will not go on to play club rugby.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Exactly. Shoo would that it was so easy to develop competitions.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

SA wealthy? Compared to which countries. The economy is in tatters unemployment is at record low numbers and you think SA has money to spend on rugby development -0 and remember the SARU was technically bankrupt and was only saved by the COVID tour of the B&I Lions. No Sa doesn't have spare cash lying round for rugby development and given the resources SARU is doing just fine.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

South African domestic rugby is in great shape. Four top tier franchises fed by a series of competitions ranging from national schools competitions through Varsity Cup to Currie Cup and then to top four franchises is a model Australia would do well to follow. SA should never have more than four top domestic teams.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

That might be the best spin off from SA's involvement north of the line.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Of course not Nick 😉

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

We have our own theories about The Sharks. Plumtree is a good coach but he has not done anywhere near the best he could with the talent and money he has at his disposal and it doesn't help to have a marquee director of rugby who has spent by far the majority of his career playing and coaching sevens.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Don't worry - you'll win again soon then you'll feel a lot better. Right now get on with your SH comps and we'll get on with being barely the best in the world.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

JW you really have no idea of how Africa works. It will take generations not decades no matter how much SA puts into it. The poverty in Africa is something that is obviously beyond your understanding. Do you think the governments of impoverished nations are going to watch happily as rugby pours massive investments into infrastructure to promote what is essentially a white western game? And SA was trying hard to develop the game in Africa until the African vote blocked our "23 bid after the independent consultants to the RFU voted unanimously for SA? The Confederation of African Rugby virtually excluded South Africa.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Nick, our association with Argentina Rugby runs very long and deep. We are exploring reciprocal two/three test tours in the future - and even more games at neutral venues such as in Europe where a lot of both teams have players anyway.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

"has SA actually EVER helped to develop another union to maturity like NZ has with Japan," yes - Argentina. You obviously don't know the history of Argentinian rugby. SA were touring there on long development tours in the 1950's

We continued the Junior Bok tours to the Argentine through to the early 70's

My coach at Grey High was Giepie Wentzel who toured Argentine as a fly half. He told me about how every Argentinian rugby club has pictures of Van Heerden and Danie Craven on prominent display. Yes we have developed a nation far more than NZ has done for Japan. And BTW Sa players were playing and coaching in Japan long before the Kiwis arrived. Fourie du Preez and many others were playing there 15 years ago.

"Isaac Van Heerden's reputation as an innovative coach had spread to Argentina, and he was invited to Buenos Aires to help the Pumas prepare for their first visit to South Africa in 1965.[1][2] Despite Argentina faring badly in this tour,[2] it was the start of a long and happy relationship between Van Heerden and the Pumas. Izak van Heerden took leave from his teaching post in Durban, relocated to Argentina, learnt fluent Spanish, and would revolutionise Argentine play in the late 1960s, laying the way open for great players such as Hugo Porta.[1][2] Van Heerden virtually invented the "tight loose" form of play, an area in which the Argentines would come to excel, and which would become a hallmark of their playing style. The Pumas repaid the initial debt, by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park, and emerged as one of the better modern rugby nations, thanks largely to the talents of this Durban schoolmaster.[1]"

After the promise made by Junior Springbok manager JF Louw at the end of a 12-game tour to Argentina in 1959 – ‘I will do everything to ensure we invite you to tour our country’ – there were concerns about the strength of Argentinian rugby. South African Rugby Board president Danie Craven sent coach Izak van Heerden to help the Pumas prepare and they repaid the favour by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Which country do you think was instrumental in developing rugby in Argentina which then spun off into the rest of Latin South America? South Africa was touring Argentine in the 50's with their Junior Bok side on three months development tours. And they didn't do it to cultivare players for the Boks. Regarding Africa you are not taking into account that South Africa itself is an emerging nation. The rugby union has prioritised the development of rugby in South African rural communities with outstanding success.

It has taken 15 years to build the participation of rugby both in playing and watching. For South Africa on its own to build a viable international rugby competition in africa will take generations - not decades. New Zealanders seem to resent the fact that SA has doubled the income of the URC since their inclusion. If New Zealand Rugby hadn't insisted on have a disproportionate slice of the pie in Super Rugby, SA might not have fled the coop.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 2 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I think this debate is avoiding the elephant in the room. Money. According to the URC chief executive Martin Anayi, the inclusion of SA teams has doubled the income of the URC. There is no doubt that the SA teams benefit from the URC but so do the other countries' teams. Perhaps it doesn't affect a club like Leinster but the less well off clubs benefit hugely from South African games' TV income. I don't think SA continued inclusion in the URC is a slam dunk. They don't hold all the cards by a long way - but they do have an ace in the hole. The Ace of Diamonds.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 2 hours ago

How Wallace Sititi humbly reacted to All Blacks Player of the Year honour