Hurricanes winger Salesi Rayasi may soon be playing for the Flying Fijians following his signing with French club RC Vannes.
The 27-year-old prioritized playing for the All Blacks while contracted with the Hurricanes, but his move to France releases him from that commitment. In an April interview, Rayasi expressed his willingness to play for the Flying Fijians if approached. Rayasi’s father, Filipe, played 13 Test matches for the Flying Fijians.
Rayasi has played 51 games in Super Rugby with the Hurricanes, starting in 33 of those and scoring 30 tries. He also represented Auckland in the NPC, scoring 40 tries in 52 matches. His athleticism and scoring ability have led to his selection for the New Zealand rugby sevens team multiple times. Rayasi’s two-season tenure with RC Vannes will mark his first experience playing abroad.