Samu Kerevi open to Fiji switch

With the way Australian rugby and RA going, I wouldn’t be surprised if a number of players decline to play for the wallabies and opt to represent elsewhere! Moral of the story... RA needs to get the wallabies mojo back so Players will be happy to stick with Australia! Right now I reckon the RA focus has shifted from rugby to something else it’s not funny anymore .. watching the wallabies play horribly in the recent RWC was just sad!

What a joke ! Don’t pick him for Australia again. It’s ONE of the problems in the Wallabies – divided loyalty.

I'm lost... how would this work? Doesn't the fact he has represented Aus exclude him from representing anyone else?

u dont have to necesarily play in the olympics but play in at least 5 tournaments leading up to it..meaning he could play one game per tournament and qualify for fiji...provided he never represented australia the past 3yrs...sunce this years world cup...so could very much happen

Kerevi simply doesn't have the array of ball skills needed to push his way into the exceptional Fijian 7's squad. He also doesn't have the type of rangey physique they favour. Absolute pie in the sky stuff. Big loss to Australian rugby.

Samu, as a dyed in the wool Australian rugby supporter, I would hate to see you slip out of Wallaby contention. But the reality is that the "Keepers of the Code of Rugby Union in Australia", even with the departure of Cameron Clyne, are oblivious to the notion of loyalty. If you do return to Fiji then do so with pride, encourage your brothers to do likewise and rattle the cages of the tier one nations.

This type of nationality "fluidity"in sport is almost guaranteed to destroy any true sporting passion with players selecting their representative status based on either dollars or opportunity, or both. I can't blame any Pacific Islander footballer of either rugby union or league from choosing to defect when they have such a small window of opportunity to earn a decent living but experience indicates that money doesn't capture their hearts and minds.

Another demonstration of Ra’s exclusivity.

Just for reference, Kerevi posted on his instagram saying he's been taking out of context. "Disappointing to be taken out of context, quoted for things I didn't say and when your having a bit of a laugh at a function. I've loved representing Fiji in my younger days and I am proud of my Fijian heritage but also extremely proud & honoured to be a Wallaby and all that Australia has done for my family & I." Seems like he is saying the comment was made in jest, and wasn't a serious indication of his plans.

ok...thanks for the details. I was wondering!

Tim Nanai-Williams is apparently another one, Jez. And I think the qualifying tournaments are enough to make the switch if the 'new' nation doesn't make the Olympics..

Yes, correct Wal, I've just been having this conversation since posting..

Think you are spot on Wal, the thing that compounds it further is that in the case of Vuna/Tonga (and, I think, others that have followed this path), is that they've played in Olympic Qualifying tournaments. With Fiji automatically qualifying for the Olympics by being in the top four of the World Series, that opportunity to play in a qualifying tournament isn't there. For Fiji you'd have to actually make the Olympic team and play in the Olympics themselves. Even harder to do

And see below Brett the short stand down period was for Rio only and is now 3 years so he only becomes eligible in 2022 i.e. the 2024 Olympics

Doesn't he just need to be selected in the team for 1 game or does he need to be select in a game in the Olympics.?

Sort of, The Player will be required to observe and demonstrate a stand down period of at least 3 years since the time the Player last represented their former Union and the time the Player first plays for the second Union or country, which must be in an Olympic Event. The Player may not represent the second Union in any other form of the Game until after they have participated in such Olympic Event. So I guess he would be eligible for Fiji Sevens at the 2024 Olympics and then Fiji there after, @ 31 I doubt he’d make the Fijian 7s team.

There is - it's how Cooper Vuna was able to switch to Tonga after being capped by Australia. It involves Olympic eligibility switches, which then allows selection for Sevens, which in turn means the 'new' national union can then pick him for internationals... (The flaw in Kerevi's thinking is that he'd just walk into the Fijian Sevens side before Tokyo next year.)

That league comment was clearly in jest due to frustration post elbowgate.

I heard there was some loophole via 7s. Not sure if true though.

Not sure this is a Rugby in Australia problem, rather a personality issue. When things didn't go his way @ the RWC he was very quick to suggest a change to League. I'd also suggest he gets a new manager since World Rugby is very clear 8.2 A Player who has played for the senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the next senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the senior National Representative Sevens Team of a Union is not eligible to play for the senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the next senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the senior National Representative Sevens Team of another Union. So zero chance of playing for Fiji.