Mick Byrne has opted for a mix of youth and experience in his squad for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup. Fijian Drua skipper Tevita Ikanivere will lean on the likes of Viliame Mata and Semi Radradra for experience, while there are five players who have yet to make their full international debuts.
Among the newcomers is versatile Drua back Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, who formerly turned out for the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby. Ex-New York prop Samu Tawake is another link to the American competition. Second row Etonia Waqa, flankers Motikiai Murray and Isoa Tuwai, and winger Taniela Rakuro are also in line for their first caps. All suit up for the Drua in Super Rugby.
Former All Blacks center or wing Seta Tamanivalu is recalled to the squad after a three year absence. The 33-year-old now plays his club rugby in Japan, and won two caps for Fiji in the 2022 Pacific Nations Cup after using the Olympic loophole to switch allegiance to the country of his birth.
While this year’s PNC will double as a qualifier for the 2027 World Cup, Fiji and Japan have already secured their tickets to Australia so are now in the process of looking at new talent ahead of that tournament. One name from the list of 29 will be omitted from the final squad for Fiji’s PNC opener against Tonga on August 30, with initial squads limited to just 28 in the training groups.
LOOSEHEAD PROP
Haereiti Hetet (Fijian Drua) 16 caps
Eroni Mawi (Saracens, UK) 41 caps
HOOKER
Tevita Ikanivere (Fijian Drua) 24 caps
Zuriel Togiatama (Fijian Drua) 5 caps
TIGHTHEAD PROP
Mesake Doge (Fijian Drua) 18 caps
Samu Tawake (Fijian Drua) 13 caps
Meli Tuni (Fijian Drua) 1 cap
SECOND ROW
Temo Mayanavanua (Northampton Saints, UK) 25 caps
Isoa Nasilasila (Fijian Drua) 21 caps
Mesake Vocevoce (Fijian Drua) 9 caps
Etonia Waqa (Fijian Drua) uncapped
BACK ROW
Elia Canakaivata (Fijian Drua) 12 caps
Viliame Mata (Bristol Bears, UK) 35 caps
Motikiai Murray (Fijian Drua) uncapped
Kitione Salawa (Fijian Drua) 9 caps
Isoa Tuwai (Fijian Drua) uncapped
SCRUMHALF
Philip Baselala (Fijian Drua) 1 cap
Simione Kuruvoli (Fijian Drua) 16 caps
Sam Wye (Hawke’s Bay, NZ) 1 cap
FLYHALF/FULLBACK
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula (Fijian Drua) 11 caps
Caleb Muntz (Fijian Drua) 15 caps
Kemu Valetini (Fijian Drua) 1 cap
MIDFIELD
Semi Radradra (Lyon, FR) 21 caps
Inia Tabuavou (Fijian Drua) 8 caps
Seta Tamanivalu (Toshiba Brave Lupus, JP) 2 caps
OUTSIDE BACKS
Ponipate Loganimasi (Fijian Drua) 4 caps
Taniela Rakuro (Fijian Drua) uncapped
Kalaveti Ravouvou (Bristol Bears, UK) 8 caps
Tuidraki Samusamuvodre (Fijian Drua) uncapped
The post Youthful Fiji squad name for Pacific Nations Cup appeared first on Americas Rugby News.
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