Former England international Nathan Hughes will make his return to international rugby in Fiji’s Nations Championship clash against France in Lyon on Sunday morning.
New head coach Jake White has named the giant Racing club player in France’s Top 14 competition in the starting lineup.
The 35-year-old Fiji-born number eight, who earned 22 caps for England between 2016 and 2019, is eligible to represent Fiji under revised World Rugby Regulation 8.
That allows players to switch international allegiance after a three-year stand-down period, provided they meet the birthright eligibility requirements.
Jake, who coached the Springboks to their Rugby World Cup win in 2007, said Hughes will complement their style of play.
“I think Nathan has done really well for Racing,” he said.
“The talk here in France is that he’s obviously played really well, and when he has played, you know, he’s carried well.
“I think one thing that just from my experience, when you’ve had big number eights, all the number eights who played in World Cups have had that kind of similar skill set, and so I’m quite keen to see Nathan.
“I know it’s his first cap for Fiji, but he has played for England and he has played Test rugby as well, so I think he’ll he’ll be fine. I think he’ll fit in nicely. He complements the rest of the team.”
Flyhalf selection
White has also made two other interesting selections in his starting lineup.
Young Isikeli Rabitu has been named at flyhalf ahead of Isaiah Washington-Ravula and Caleb Muntz, the regulars in the number 10.
In midfield White has gone for Vinaya Habosi at 12 and Iosefo Masi at 13.
White said the selections gives him and the team the chance to see new combinations and test them out.
“We are very fortunate in Fiji we got lots and lots of backline players,” he told the media on Friday morning.
“I mean, I’ve given them this opportunity now, with some players being unavailable.
“They’ve got Habosi and Masi together and I’d like to see what they do together as a combination.
“I think also from a 10 point of view, if you look at Rabitu, I mean, he has played 10 before, and he’s played 10 at school and he was a sevens player, so I mean, he understands space and time.
“I’d like to see just a different combination at 10.”
White has been impressed with the players in his three weeks as coach and believes the team named will give France a good go this weekend.
“I’m blown away,” he said of the talent in the team.
“I’ve coached many many good players in my time, and there’s no reason why these Fijian players should take a step back.
“I mean, they’re very talented. They’ve been together for a short space of time, but you know the energy they give, the ability to learn, the enthusiasm they show.
“I mean, I can’t fault any of that, and that’s why I think everyone, even in the group, are looking forward to Saturday night.”
‘A very different team’
White said the players know they have not reached the level they want to be playing at.
But he reckons things will be on the up, with the current squad in France made up of more Europe-based players, compared to the team that beat Japan in Tokyo two weeks ago.
“The team has been working hard, they get on well, they’re spending a lot of time together, they’re getting to know each other, they’re getting to know the coaches, they’re getting to understand the way we want to play, and yeah, I mean it is a very different team,” White told the media.
“I really enjoyed the team that we took to Japan, but you can imagine this is a much bigger group physically, it’s a much more experienced group because a lot of these guys have played overseas, and they’ve played against some of the best teams in the world.
“And as I look across here, a lot of these boys play in France as well. So, they know the opposition that they’re playing against. They’ve played against them for their clubs and I know that if we just play as well as we can, that we can really make it difficult for France.”
The Fiji vs France battle will kick off at 9am on Sunday NZT.
The Flying Fijians match-day 23: 15 Salesi Rayasi, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Vinaya Habosi, 11 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 10 Isikeli Rabitu, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Pita-Gus Sowakula, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Luke Tagi, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (captain), 1 Eroni Mawi; Bench: 16. Zuriel Togiatama, 17. Peni Ravai, 18. Inoke Ravuiwasa, 19. Peceli Yato, 20. Elia Canakaivata, 21. Frank Lomani, 22. Ben Volavola, 23.Sireli Maqala
Former All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa (left) and Ngani Laumape have teamed up for Tonga in Bucharest, where the team will play Romania on Saturday morning.
Malakai Fekitoa
Samoa and Tonga name lineups
Meanwhile, both Samoa and Tonga have also named strong lineups for their Nations Cup commitments this weekend.
Tonga will meet Romania in Bucharest on Saturday morning.
Former Crusaders and Highlanders centre Fetuli Paea will lead the side.
Former All Black Malakai Fekitoa is on the bench, with the Inisi brothers of Lotu and Fine named in the starting lineup.
Four players are in line to make their Manu Samoa debuts this weekend as Head Coach Lemalu Tusi Pisi has named a strong side to face Zimbabwe.
Former All Black Shaun Stevenson and former Blues winger AJ Lam have been named in the starting lineup.
Another former All Black Josh Ioane and Chris Gabriel could also earn their first international caps for Samoa if called upon from the replacements bench.
Moana Pasifika captain for 2026 Miracle Failangi is named at six
Former All Black Shaun Stevenson (middle) with Manu Samoa in England, preparing for Sunday’s battle against Zimbabwe.
Manu Samoa
Here are the Tonga and Samoa match-day 23 squads:
Ikale Tahi Tonga vs Romania: 1. Siegfred Fisiihoi, 2. Siua Maile, 3. Paula Latu, 4. Veikoso Poloniati, 5. Justin Mataele, 6. Samuel Tuitupou, 7. Semisi Paea, 8. Lotu Inisi, 9. Sione Nginingini, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Anzelo Tuitavuki, 12. Fetuli Paea (Captain), 13. Fine Inisi, 14. John Tapueluelu, 15. Taniela Filimone; Bench: Efitusi Maafu, 17. Toma Taufa, 18. Phillip Kite, 19. Halaleva Fifita, 20. Otunuku Pauta, 21. Sonatane Takulua, 22. Manu Vunipola, 23. Malakai Fekitoa.
Manu Samoa vs Zimbabwe: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Richie Asiata, 3. Michael Alalatoa, 4. Benjamin Petia Nee-nee, Theo McFarland (Captain), 6. Miracle Failagi, 7. Niko Jones, 8. Abraham Papali’I, 9. Condor Tupa’I, 10. Jacob Umaga, 11. AJ Lam, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Lattrell Ah Kiong, 15. Shaun Stevenson; Bench: 16. Sama Malolo, 17. Aki Seiuli, 18. Tietie Tuimauga, 19. Chris Gabriel, 20. Alamanda Motuga, 21. Joel Lam, 21. Josh Ioane, 23. Duncan Paia’aua.
