Waisea Nayacalevu, despite raising concerns over unpaid bonuses and allegations of corruption at Rugby House, has been included in the Flying Fijians squad for their upcoming tour in Europe. Joining him are key players such as Semi Radradra, Albert Tuisue, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Samuel Matavesi, and Meli Derenalagi, all of whom have lent their support to Nayacalevu’s claims.
Nayacalevu and Tevita Ikanivere have been appointed as co-captains for the tour. Head coach Mick Byrne emphasized that the selection process was not influenced by the ongoing issues. “It has nothing to do with team selection. I’ll pick the best players to play for the country in the tour,” Byrne stated.
Fiji Rugby Union interim Trustees chairman Peter Mazey confirmed that the final decision on player selection rests solely with the head coach. “We (interim Trustees) have no say in it,” Mazey remarked.
Racing 92 winger Josua Tuisova is making a comeback to the team, which is gearing up for a challenging series of matches against Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Spain. Byrne expressed the significance of the tour, predicting tough competition and mentioning potential challenges posed by the climate, although he noted that the cool weather would be manageable.
One notable absence is robust center Iosefo Masi, who is sidelined due to injury. Byrne indicated that Masi would be missed, especially after his exhaustive schedule participating in all Super Rugby matches for the Fijian Drua prior to the Olympic Games and the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC). Masi has attracted interest from Top 14 clubs, with Lyon reportedly considering him as a potential replacement for Radradra.
Maintaining the core of the squad from the PNC, Byrne also introduced new players such as Sireli Maqala, Jiuta Wainiqolo, and Saimoni Uluinakauvadra. Regarding Maqala’s placement in the full-back position, Byrne explained it was a familiar role for him. He highlighted the versatility of the players, making the team’s backline particularly strong.
Byrne added that the PNC squad took a short break to recover from recent tournaments, stating it was beneficial for the players to rest. Training is set to resume next week to finalize strategies and player combinations for the tour.
He emphasized the importance of integrating new players into the team structure for balanced growth. “We try to give everyone an equal opportunity to play and take it to the next level,” he said, noting that exposing younger players to competitive situations will help in building a stronger future for the team.
The Flying Fijians will face Scotland on November 2 at Murrayfield, followed by matches against Wales on November 10 in Cardiff, Spain on November 17, and finally Ireland on November 23 in Dublin.