Flying Fijians

Fiji are set to play back to back matches against New Zealand in Dunedin on July 10th, and again a week later in Hamilton.

With a mix of experienced and young players confirmed for the upcoming games, Head Coach Vern Cotter said they need to keep things simple.

"It's an exciting squad and a perfect opportunity for the players who have been training well and the exposure within the squad against other confirmed international players will be fruitful," he said.

"We are looking forward to getting this group together and we will have to keep things simple."

Fiji have played New Zealand nine previous occasions, including five tests, the last of which was a 60-14 defeat in the last ever test at Carisbrook in Dunedin in 2011.

Fiji Rugby chief executive John O'Connor said they were also in talks to host Ireland during the July test window, when the British and Irish Lions were scheduled to be in South Africa.

"I think next year we have the All Blacks so we will look forward to preparing for that and [hosting] Ireland and hopefully we have that vaccine and the test schedule for next year continues as per plan."

The Flying Fijians ended a difficult six week tour with a commanding 38-24 victory over Georgia in Edinburgh, with eight players making their test debut and returning veteran Nemani Nadolo bagging a hat-trick in what proved to be their only match of the tournament following a Covid-19 outbreak within the squad.

Fiji Rugby CEO John O'Connor said it was just reward after a trying period for the players, who spent two week in isolation in their hotel rooms while tests against Portugal, France, Italy and Scotland were called off.

"We are a community-based society," he said.

Vern Cotter has named nine debutants under captain Semi Radradra with the young flankers Johnny Dyer and Mesulame Kunavula together with Lock Temo Mayanavanua named in the starting lineup.

Sunday will be the Flying Fijians first and last game in the Autumn Nations Cup after their earlier pool matches against France, Italy and Scotland were called off because of an outbreak of Covid-19 in the team.

Despite having no option but to see France, Italy and Scotland all awarded 28-0 bonus-point group wins, Nadolo and co are still clinging to the hope that they will eventually have a sufficient clean bill of health and will be able to participate in a December 5 play-off match, most likely against Georgia at Murrayfield.  

The decision was taken after the squad underwent a new round of Covid-19 testing on Monday.

In a statement, tournament organisers Six Nations Rugby said they remain in constant contact with the Fijian squad to address the situation.

"The main priority at present is the welfare of all players and management."

The Fiji squad, which includes 32 players and the management staff, is currently self-isolating in their hotel rooms at their tournament base in Saint-Galmier.

Additional test were carried out on the Flying Fijians squad after a player - understood to be centre Semi Radradra - tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday.

Organisers of the Autumn Nations Cup made the decision to cancel the Test in Vannes on Friday after the squad returned the four new positive tests, which also affected a number of close contacts.

The match was scheduled to take place on Sunday local time but due to the tight schedule it was not possible to postpone the fixture to a later date.

The inclusion of the 13-times capped Fijian tighthead is one of seven changes made by Head Coach Richard Cockerill following last weekend’s road win against Conference B rivals Scarlets.

With 23 first team players unavailable due to injury or international selection, Head Coach Richard Cockerill once again gives youth an opportunity, with seven academy or first-year pro players named in the matchday 23.

The Fiji Rugby Union confirmed that all players underwent a coronavirus test after arriving at their camp in Limoges, in southwest-central France.

Three members of the Flying Fijians entourage tested positive for early Covid symptoms and are now in isolation.

Three other players are in isolation at their homes in accordance with French government and club protocols.

In a statement, the FRU said none of the affected squad members are showing any Covid-19 symptoms as they await the second round of testing and are being monitored daily.

Rugby Pass reported that between five and seven Fiji players tested positive at their training base in France where they will be for the next two weeks.

Coach Vern Cotter, assistant coach Glen Jackson and seven players of the squad were involved in the Barbarians match preparations to face England which saw the game cancelled after 13 players left the team "bubble"

Those players were awaiting a hearing with possible bans and fines likely, but the seven Fiji players were said to have followed protocols.