Fijian quartet Nathan Hughes, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Henry Speight and Tevita Kuridrani are eligible to represent Fiji in this year’s Rugby World Cup in France.
This came after World Rugby approved a change in rugby’s eligibility laws that came into effect in January last year, which allows players to represent a second Test nation provided they have ‘a close and credible link to that union via birth-right.’
The player transfer to another Test nation could happen under World Rugby’s revised regulation 8 where a player may only change union once, and each case will be subject to approval by the World Rugby Regulations Committee to preserve integrity.
Hughes, who is currently plying his trade in Japan could add to the plethora of talent Flying Fijians have in their back row.
He earned the last of his 22 caps for England in 2019, and having been born in Fiji, he is eligible to be part of the Flying Fijians squad.
Fiji is stacked with options on the wing, but the imposing frame of Naiyaravoro could be a valuable asset at the World Cup.
The 31-year-old is currently playing in the Japan Rugby League One following his stint at Northampton Saints.
Born in Fiji, he played two Tests for Australia, the last of which was in 2016.
Another former Wallaby who could trade the Gold and Green for the Flying Fijians is 34-year-old Speight, who was born in Fiji and represented Australia 19 times between 2014 and 2017.
Veteran centre, Fiji-born Kuridrani went on to amass over 130 appearances for the Brumbies and was a mainstay in the Wallabies squad between 2013 and 2019, earning 61 caps and played at two Rugby World Cups.
Now plying his trade at Biarritz, Kuridrani could switch to Fiji, granted he can crack the nod in another well-stocked position.
