Nathan Hughes Fiji debut against France, Digi Mart USA News: Eight years after his last appearance for England, Nathan Hughes is preparing to return to international rugby in the colors of Fiji. The 35-year-old Racing 92 back-row will play his first match for the Fijian national team against France in Lyon on Saturday.
The situation is particularly rare for a player who has already earned 22 caps with England. Fiji coach Jake White has decided to trust him, while leaving Josua Tuisova out of the squad.
Hughes’s change of national team was made possible by World Rugby eligibility rules. Because his last appearance for England dates back eight years and he has Fijian heritage, he can now represent Fiji.
The match is the fourth round of the Nations Championship.
For this match, Jake White has chosen to rely on Hughes’s power in the back row. The South African coach particularly values the performances the player has delivered with Racing 92 and his ability to carry the ball forward.
White explained his selection: “Nathan is playing really well with Racing. When he is on the field, he carries the ball very well (…) I think he will fit in very well.
He complements the rest of the team. We also have Peceli Yato on the bench, who can also cover the No. 8 position.
There are not many teams in the world that can start with Hughes and then bring on Yato.”
The back row will thus bring his international experience to the Fijians, while Peceli Yato, a Perpignan player, will provide an additional option off the bench. Josua Tuisova, however, was not selected to face the Tricolores.
Hughes will not be the only player from the French championship in the match. In total, eleven players who play in France were selected in the Fijian squad.
Top 14 fans will notably see Luke Tagi, prop for Bayonne, and Salesi Rayasi, player for Bordeaux-Bègles.
Racing 92 will also be represented by Selestino Ravutaumada and Vinaya Habosi, while Lyon will have two of its players, Iosefo Masi and Jiuta Wainiqolo. Simione Kuruvoli, scrum-half for Vannes, will also take part.
This strong presence of players familiar with the French championship could be an advantage for the Fijians, who know the characteristics of several French internationals well. White believes his players have the means to compete with France: “They know the opponent they are going to face.
And I have no doubt that, if we play at our best level, we can really make it difficult for France.”
Fiji enter this match after a particularly difficult first part of the Nations Championship. In July, the Fijian national team suffered three heavy defeats in a context marked by several absences.
Since then, Jake White has taken charge of the team with the ambition of restoring the group’s confidence and strengthening its fundamentals.
The Fijian coach expressed his enthusiasm before challenging the French: “I am really very enthusiastic. I think there is a very talented group of players.
It is all a matter of confidence. We know we need to change perceptions.
We need to build a solid foundation, in the set scrum and the lineout. We must be disciplined.
We are facing a very good France team. And it gives us an opportunity, before the World Cup, to see where we stand.”
