Semi Radradra

The enforced ending of the Top14 league in France and the delayed conclusion to the Gallagher Premiership and Guinness Pro14 seasons has seen players move clubs in recent weeks, with new contracts coming into force on July 1.

That has created unique qualification situations and with the quarter-finals of both European competitions to be staged on the weekend of September 18, squads have been bolstered by new arrivals.

Punters worldwide hit the polls on RugbyPass’ Facebook and Instagram accounts as part of the Straight 8 Fan Vote campaign to decide the best players on the globe in each position, as voted by the fans.

In the first two instalments of the series, England star Mao Itoje defeated South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth to be crowned the world’s best lock, while World Rugby player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit fought off All Blacks powerhouse Ardie Savea to claim the flanker title.

Radradra was not present at the Fiji Rugby Awards night but a family member received the award on his behalf.

The France based player was one of the form players of last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The awards night was held last night.

 "There's something going on in Bordeaux," said home coach Christophe Urios.

 Former Fiji international Nemani Nadolo out-did Radradra with a hat-trick of tries as Montpellier eked out a 31-29 home victory over Bayonne.

 In Pau, Alivereti Raka, a Fijian-born France winger, scored with three minutes left to give visiting Clermont a 23-21.

 French winger Daniel Ikepfan scored two as Toulon won 34-17 at home against Brive to move up to third ahead of Sunday's games.

The 27-year-old, who switched codes from rugby league in 2017, started all four of Fiji's pool matches at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, wreaking havoc in their tournament opener against Australia and scoring two tries in the win over Georgia.

"There is no doubt that Semi is one of the best players in the world, he's truly a world class performer and we are so excited about what he can do for the team," Bristol Director of Rugby Pat Lam said in a statement.

The 27-year-old Bordeaux flyer has been the subject of much speculation regarding where he will be playing next year following his sensational World Cup campaign in Japan.

Many reports suggested that a return to the NRL, where he first made a name for himself with the Parramatta Eels between 2013 and 2017, was imminent due to homesickness and a disliking to the cold French weather.

Radradra, who starred for Fiji at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, is homesick in France and wants to return to the NRL, according to The Daily Telegraph.

France's cold weather and family reasons are cited as other reasons for the 27-year-old's willingness to take a major pay cut in order to switch codes once again.

Radradra scored 82 tries in 94 matches for Parramatta between 2013 and 2017, before joining Toulon in 2017.

Last year, he signed for Bordeaux.

The Flying Fijians played a trump card in announcing their team for Saturday's match in Sapporo by shifting the explosive Radradra to the left wing.

It's the same position where the former rugby league star was a five-season NRL sensation for Parramatta, scoring 82 tries in 94 games until 2017.

All of the 27-year-old's Test rugby appearances have been at outside centre and he has been primarily used there at French club Bordeaux.

Coach John McKee's starting XV to face Tonga at Eden Park on Saturday is likely to be close to that which runs out against the Wallabies in their pool opener at Sapporo three weeks later.

The team is dominated by European-based professionals and most of them were involved in last November's historic 21-14 upset of France in Paris.

That includes Bordeaux-based outside centre Radradra, who has made slick transition to the 15-man code.

The former Fiji and Australia rugby league international signed a one-year deal with Toulon for the current campaign after quitting NRL side Parramatta Eels to switch codes.

Radradra, who can operate on the wing or as a centre, will be lining up against the three-time European champions next season after signing a two-year deal with Bordeaux.

The 25-year-old powerhouse scored two tries in Toulon's 36-12 victory over his future employers at Stade Mayol last weekend.