Semi Radradra, the star player for the Flying Fijians, is currently stuck in Fiji and may miss the beginning of the 2024/25 French Top 14 season with his new club, Lyon. The delay is due to visa complications involving his son.
The 32-year-old athlete from Somosomo in Taveuni had returned to Fiji after playing against the All Blacks on July 20 in San Diego. However, a paperwork issue related to his son’s travel documents has prevented him from making the journey back to France just 11 days ahead of his team’s opening match.
It appears that Radradra assumed he could travel back to France without requiring a visa for his son; unfortunately, he was denied boarding. There is now an urgent effort to obtain the necessary paperwork to facilitate their return.
According to a report by L’Equipe, “Less than two weeks before the resumption of the Top 14, Semi Radradra has still not returned to France.” The report further explains that the Fijian center is facing a visa issue for his son due to a bureaucratic complication in France.
His son, who is less than a year old and born in France, is on Radradra’s passport, which led to the assumption that a visa was unnecessary. However, when attempting to leave Fiji, boarding was denied for Radradra’s son. It has been clarified that a visa is indeed required.
The visa application is currently being expedited through Singapore and may take up to 10 days to process. Radradra is expected to return to France by Friday at the earliest, and he will likely arrive before the start of the Top 14 season. An update concerning his physical condition will be provided after his arrival. Lyon is set to play their first match of the season away against Montpellier on September 7.