Fekitoa & Tonga

[MarleyWasp]

It appears Tonga are trying to persuade Malakai to play for them in the final qualification tournament for the Tokyo Olympic Sevens, currently scheduled to take place in Monaco on the weekend of the Premiership semi finals. If he does and plays in half the matches he would be eligible to play 15s for Tonga too. They're also hoping that Charles Piutau will play.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/300242997/former-all-black-charles-piutau-poised-to-finally-complete-tongan-switch

[Neils]

At least he will be free from the Prem Semis so good for him. It is what the Pacific Nations have been asking for some time.

[COYW15]

Bristol might be reluctant to let their million pound man miss a semi-final.

Not sure we'll face the same dilemma.

[Heathen]

Are lapsed All Blacks allowed to do this?

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Are lapsed All Blacks allowed to do this?

I don't know where they've got to but it was a central theme in Dan Leo's Oceans Apart as a way to get money in to Pacific Islands rugby.

[Neils]

Are lapsed All Blacks allowed to do this?

I don't know where they've got to but it was a central theme in Dan Leo's Oceans Apart as a way to get money in to Pacific Islands rugby.

Plus Bill Beaumont's Organisation promised to move this request from the Pacific Nations forward.

[MarleyWasp]

Yes. A player that hasn't played international Rugby for 3 years can switch to represent a country that he has a passport for by playing in an Olympic qualifying tournament.

Malakai hasn't played for the All Blacks since July 2017,  so if he plays for Tonga in an Olympic qualifying tournament, he can then represent them at any form of the game. Tonga have already claimed Cooper Vuna from Australia this way and Samoa claimed Tim Nanai-Williams from New Zealand.

[hookender]

Good opportunity for all P.I’s

[Rossm]

Good opportunity for all P.I’s

Lima?

[Neils]

Good opportunity for all P.I’s

Lima?

Yes if anyone wanted him. Been out of AB thoughts for three years.

[Heathen]

He would be a good asset to the PIs. Very much more comfortable with their style of playing the game.

[JonnyD]

Good opportunity for all P.I’s

Lima?

Yes if anyone wanted him. Been out of AB thoughts for three years.

Samoan descent right? Think he’d walk into that team at FH

[MarleyWasp]

According to Planet Rugby he is in the Tongan squad for next week's qualifying tournament in Monaco.

Ex-All Black Malakai Fekitoa to play for Tonga
Date published: June 11 2021


Former All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa will move closer to representing Tonga at Test level when he represents the Pacific Island nation at next weekend’s Olympic Sevens qualifying tournament in Monaco.

Fekitoa is one of four ex-New Zealand and Australian internationals who have switched their rugby allegiance to Tonga.

The others are former Wallabies utility forward Lopeti Timani, ex-Australian Sevens international Afusipa Taumoepeau and Tima Fainga’anuku, who represented New Zealand at Sevens.

Fekitoa will join Tonga’s Sevens squad in Monaco after playing for Wasps in their last Premiership match against Leicester Tigers at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.

The former Highlanders and Auckland star represented Tonga in Sevens before moving to New Zealand on a scholarship when he was 17 years old.

Made his All Blacks debut in 2014
The 29-year-old, who was born on Hihifo in the Ha’apai Islands, made his All Blacks debut in 2014 and played the last of his 24 Tests during the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2017.

Players are allowed to switch their international allegiance by playing in an Olympic qualifying event, provided they possess a passport for the second country and have completed a stand down period of three years.

If he plays in 50 per cent of Tonga’s games at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Monaco, Fekitoa will become eligible to play for Tonga’s national team.

He will not make his Test debut for Tonga when they face New Zealand in Auckland next month, however, due to global travel restrictions which includes a lack of available places in New Zealand’s Managed Isolation Quarantine facilities.

That means Fekitoa is only set to feature during the ‘Ikale Tahi’s end-of-year Tests in November

Tonga are in Pool A alongside Samoa, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Mexico. Unless they finish bottom of their pool they will play two further matches in the knock out phase.

[Trevs Big Tackle]

Excellent news. Good luck to you Malakai. Shame that Piutau couldn't find an earlier sevens tournament to play in.

It could be good to have Malakai playing for Tonga. He could be an excellent scout to help us pick up a few Pacific gems.