Flying Fijians

Hughes was born in Fiji, moved to New Zealand on a high school scholarship, and traveled to England where he played 22 tests.

He is now playing club rugby in Japan and last played at Number 8 for England in 2019.

Under amended rules, a player is eligible to change their allegiance after a three-year break.

Hughes, now 31, told AP he hadn't had a conversation with new Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui about a possible move, although he had some contact with Fiji when he first changed his eligibility.

He said it would mean a lot playing for his home nation.

Seruvakula, who coached the Fijiana Drua to their inaugural Super W Championship and led the Fijiana 15s to the Rugby World Cup, now has been handed the task of mentoring the Warriors, the nation's development team.

He was the coach of the Warriors which went undefeated between 2015 and 2019. Seruvakula will be assisted by former Flying Fijians and Fiji 7s rep Sireli Naqelevuki.

The duo has put together a strong 28-member squad which will travel to Samoa at the end of the month, where they will meet the equivalent sides of Tonga, Samoa and Japan.

Fiji Rugby Union announced earlier this month that New Zealand coach Scott Robertson was offered a role.

But it appears the Crusaders mentor did not take up the offer after Raiwalui's appointment was confirmed at Rugby House in Suva on Friday.

The former lock forward has been involved in the game as a player and a coach for almost three decades.

In his most recent role, he was FRU's high performance unit general manager.

The assistant has been working with the Pacific Islanders since 2020 and had been signed until the 2023 Rugby World Cup finals in France. 

However, he will now be at that tournament as an All Blacks assistant after he was recruited last weekend by New Zealand Rugby when they opted to bring in Ryan to assist Ian Foster and jettison John Plumtree and Brad Mooar. 

Numerous handling errors and general play issues contributed to Fiji’s loss – a side that was given a reality check by Australia A, who played basic structured rugby to disrupt the Fijian side who had made 11 changes.

The Aussies were a totally different side bringing the game to Fiji who were at times under pressure.

Fiji who had looked to back its big performance last week against Tonga got off to a perfect start drawing first blood through the boot of Teti Tela.

The 32 year old will lead the side in his 20th outing for Fiji and he’s excited about his partnership with young Fijian Drua star Kalaveti Ravouvou.

Nayacalevu said Ravouvou deserves his starting role and believes the rookie will bring something new.

”As you can see in the Drua what he can do, we’ve trained together through the weeks and things are going smoothly, hope to see some exciting things to happen this weekend”.

Another midfield veteran, Levani Botia, believes Ravouvou has a promising future in the number 12 jersey.

Tamanivalu is the first Fijian player to join the Flying Fijians following the change in World Rugby eligibility rules in November 2021.

The squad also includes 16 players from the Fijian Drua, who will feature alongside other Super Rugby Pacific and Europe-based stars for their country.

“It’s very exciting and a real honour for us to present the first Flying Fijians squad of 2022 to the Fijian people”, Flying Fijians  Coach, Vern Cotter said.

With the completion of the tour, Cotter said they could have done much better.

The Flying Fijians won their first game 43-13 against Spain, lost to Wales 23-38, and were held 15-all by Georgia.

Cotter said the key theme coming out of the Wales match was discipline.

Winger Eroni Sau was suspended for five weeks following his red card for a dangerous tackle in the game, but Fiji also picked up two yellow cards in Cardiff.

Cotter says the squad has to get its attitude and mindset sorted out, and follow a good game with another top-notch performance.

Tokyo Olympics sevens gold medallists Aminiasi Tuimaba, Jiuta Wainiqolo and Vilimoni Botitu will start on the wings and at centre.

Meanwhile, 2016 gold medallist Masivesi Dakuwaqa and 20-year-old Stade Francais hooker Henry Spring are set to make their test debut off the bench.

Interim Flying Fijians head coach Gareth Baber knows Tuimaba, Wainiqolo and Botitu well from his five years' in charge of the sevens programme.

Star midfielder Levani Botia, who captained Fiji against the All Blacks in July, will undergo a knee operation this month and has been replaced by Apisai Naqalevu.

Hooker Peni Narisia has been replaced by Zuriel Togiatama after suffering a calf injury, while veteran lock Api Ratuniyarawa has been called in to replace flanker Peceli Yato, who injured his knee playing for Clermont at the weekend.

Biarritz back-rower Johnny Dyer has also pulled out of the tour for personal reasons and the coaching staff is still weighing up whether to call in another player.