Page 33 - IB March 2018 Edition

Sports

World Cup our squad is very settled,”
revealed McKee. Racing 92’s Fijian lock Leone
“But at the same time I want to leave Nakarawa (with ball) shrugs off
the door open for players. I know some Montpellier’s FranÁois Steyn (L)
players who are outside this group, this and French flanker Fulgence
test series, who are either really close to Ouedraogo (R) during their
French Top 14 match in 2017.
selection or perhaps because of injury were Nakarawa, voted the world’s
not available. number one rugby player in
“The door is always open for them 2017, will be key in Fiji’s World
Cup Campaign. Photo: SCMP
to come back in and also I know some
younger players on the horizon who could
certainly put their hand up in the next 18
months, to be worthy of inclusion, because
ultimately we will pick the best squad
based on form.”
First up on Fiji’s road to the World Cup
is the World Rugby Pacific Challenge to
be held held in Suva this month. Four
countries will compete in the 2018 World
Rugby Pacific Challenge - Junior Japan,
Tonga ‘A’, Samoa ‘A’ and hosts Fiji War-
riors. The competition will be an Under
23 level competition with the allowance
of five senior players.
Competition will be played over three
rounds and the team with the highest
points on the points table will be declared
the 2018 champion. McKee said it would
be a chance for these players, most of
whom are home based, to prove they
have the calibre to push into his squad
for Japan. 2017. ing him to be eligible for the nation of his
Former National Rugby League star His selection by leading rugby website heritage at the 2019 tournament in Japan.
Semi Radradra, who has been in-form for rugbybypass.com shocked world rugby. Kefu said the former All Blacks and
Toulon in the French Top 14 this season According to the website, Nakarawa was Blues star was eager to make the switch,
had also indicated his interest in playing unmatched in 2017 and would be a man having represented Tonga at under-20
for Fiji at the World Cup. to watch at the World Cup. level.
“Semi has certainly been in very good “The fact Nakarawa plays for a tier two “I’ve spoken to him a few times and
form in France. I spoke to him during the nation undoubtedly works against him in his brother (Siale) as well - he’s very de-
November tour (last year). I will be travel- terms of the World Rugby awards – and termined to play for Tonga so we’re very
ling to Europe soon and I will be meeting quality of opposition is a valid concern in happy about that,” Kefu said.
him in Toulon at the end of February to that regard – but as a rugby player, he has Piutau left New Zealand for Ulster in
outline our plans, if he continues his good no equal,” it said 2015, ruling him out of All Blacks selec-
form he is quite high on my list of players “He lit up countless games in 2017 tion, and will next season move to English
I’m considering for June,” McKee said. with his ability to keep phases alive with side Bristol as the world’s highest-paid
“In November he indicated to me that he offloads and allow his teammates to target player.
was interested in talking about our plans disjointed defences, not to mention his Kefu said that Piutau wasn’t the only
for 2019. At the end of the day we want formidable lineout work, powerful carry- former All Black being targeted by Tonga,
to pick the best team we can and the team ing and committed defence.” singling out ex-Blues and Counties winger
will be picked on form. The best players McKee said Fiji’s pool of talented players Frank Halai, who played one Test for the
will get selected and currently he is playing made it difficult for him at selection time. All Blacks in 2013.
very well and we have got some other good He intends to visit Europe again in the “There’s a winger in France now by the
players as well playing in those positions. next few weeks to visit his top prospects. name of Frank Halai, who’s had also a
I will be tracking his form very closely as I Like McKee Tonga coach Toutai Kefu is cap for the All Blacks. He’s a player we’re
do for a lot of players overseas.” banking on Europe-based players for the very much interested in and he’s a player
Radradra is among an elite group of World Cup. Tonga joins England, France, that’s very much interested in coming to
Fijians whose performance has been Argentina and the United States in Pool C. play for us.”
hailed by commentators in the Northern Kefu told Islands Business that he was Rugby’s eligibility rules state that a
Hemisphere. At the top of the list is gold- keen on having former All Black Charles player can represent another nation,
winning Olympian Leone Nakarawa, Piutau in his squad. Piutau, 26, played provided they hold the correct passport
whose form for Racing 92 won him the the last of his 17 Test matches for the All and haven’t played international rugby
title of the world’s best rugby player in Blacks back in 2015, conceivably allow- for three years.

Islands Business, March 2018 33