Jiuta Wainiqolo Top 14 player of the month nomination, Digi Mart USA News: Lyon winger Jiuta Wainiqolo is among three players shortlisted for the Top 14 player of the month award for October, according to the French rugby league’s official account. The Ligue nationale de rugby unveiled the nominees on Tuesday: Justo Piccardo of Montpellier, Jiuta Wainiqolo of Lyon and Tom Willis of UBB.
The public vote is open, and no winner has been announced yet. Wainiqolo had already been highlighted on Monday by the same account, which ranked his try first among the best tries of Round 8, ahead of those of Piccardo and Selestino Ravutaumada of Racing 92.
The Fijian winger had a standout October for Lyon. At Bayonne in Round 7, he scored Lyon’s second try and then set up the try that secured victory in the 76th minute, as Lyon won 31-27 at Jean-Dauger.
On that play, he passed to center Iosefo Masi Baleiwairiki, his club teammate.
Both Lyon players are in the 35-man squad named by coach Jake White for Fiji’s November tour, according to the Fiji Times, which lists Wainiqolo and Iosefo Masi among the sixteen backs. Fiji will then face Ireland and Italy.
The France-Fiji match is scheduled for Saturday, November 7 at 9:10 p.m. at the Groupama Stadium in Décines, near Lyon, with English referee Karl Dickson officiating, according to the match listing published by the French Rugby Federation and its ticketing service.
The venue is not Lyon’s usual home ground, the Matmut Stadium in Gerland, which the club has used since January 2017. Lyon Capitale reports that the match is the fourth round of the Nations Championship and France’s first home game in the competition after three away fixtures.
Fiji’s squad is missing Semi Radradra and includes Nathan Hughes. On the French side, Fabien Galthié has had to replace Jelonch and Brennan, who are unavailable for the match against Fiji.
