Taqele Naiyaravoro was one that got away from Australian rugby.
The Fijian-born flyer fled his adopted homeland nearly 18 months ago to link up with the Northampton Saints of the English Premiership.
Naiyaravoro had been a powerful and productive presence on the flanks in his days with the Waratahs. He spent five seasons over two stints with the sky-blue side, scoring 29 tries in 47 matches. During his final season in 2018, he set a single season club record with 15 five-pointers.
Oh, how the Tahs missed Big T last year. His loss, as well as the mid-season axing of another prolific try-scorer, resulted in the Waratahs scoring 40 less tries (yes, that many!) than they did the previous season. They also slumped from nine wins to six and missed the playoffs for the third time in four years.
His impressive Super Rugby performances led to two cups of coffee with the Wallabies, one each in 2015 and 2016. Naiyaravoro was chuffed to get his shot at international rugby.
“They were definitely among the highlights of my career. Right up there with playing for the Barbarians and the World XV,” he says.
Naiyaravoro was undoubtedly the biggest man to ever play on the wing for Australia. With his massive six foot five, 130kg frame, he has often been compared to the great Jonah Lomu.
(AAP Image/Craig Golding)
Like the former All Blacks winger, Naiyaravoro possesses a frightening mix of size, power and speed. The 28-year-old admits to being an admirer of the late Lomu.
“He was one of my idols growing up and somebody that I looked up to and always tried to copy his style of play. He paved the way for wingers like me to play the game now,” he says.
Naiyaravoro put his Lomu-esque kit bag to good use by scoring a try in both of his matches in the green-and-gold jersey. But that’s all that he would be allowed to get.
The Wallabies selectors have shown a propensity in recent times to select a different type of winger. Those called upon have invariably possessed accomplished kicking skills and the ability to defuse high balls. Think Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Drew Mitchell.
Naiyaravoro just did not fit that mould. Understandably, as a result of being repeatedly snubbed, he began to explore his options.
“There was no point in staying (in Australia) as opportunities with the Wallabies weren’t there. I wasn’t getting any international duties, so I wanted to challenge myself elsewhere,” he says.
Australia’s loss has been Northampton’s gain. Naiyaravoro has settled perfectly into the East Midlands where he has been one of the English Premiership’s best players since he arrived early in the 2018-19 season.
Naiyaravoro’s powerful bursts have been too hot for many Premiership defenders to handle. The gigantic winger has made a habit of blasting hapless bodies aside like bowling pins and setting the Saints up for scoring opportunities.
His stats reflect his dominance. In his debut season, Naiyaravoro led the competition in three different categories: metres gained, defenders beaten and clean breaks.
He was also second in the league in offloads and scored ten tries in all competitions. At times he genuinely looked like a man among boys.
Northampton certainly benefited from his contributions. They surged up the ladder last season to make their first finals appearance in four years. They also took home some silverware by capturing the inaugural English Premiership Cup.
The big man has been just as influential so far in his second campaign. He still steamrolls defenders for fun, but also has become more involved with the play. He credits a full preseason with helping him become fitter and (a little bit!) lighter this campaign.
“I put a lot of hard work into the preseason. My goal was to get back to the weight that I was with the Tahs, and now that I have it’s been working out really well for me. The main challenge now is to keep that level of performance going consistently,” he says.
With Naiyaravoro’s improved motor helping him to get his hands on the ball more often, Northampton have continued to prosper. They have won six out of their first eight games and currently sit second on the table.
Some of his contributions have been seismic. With his team trailing in the dying minutes at Wasps in Round 8, Naiyaravoro barged over for a match-winning try. Northampton had looked destined to lose after being reduced to 13 men late in the contest.
Saints fans will continue to be spoiled by the box-office play of their imported winger for several more years to come. He signed a two-year contract extension last October, which will keep him at Franklin’s Gardens until the end of the 2021-22 season.
A return to international rugby may also be in the pipeline. Just don’t expect it to come with the Wallabies. Naiyarovoro’s next chance may actually come with his native Fiji.
Australia continues to uphold the controversial ‘Giteau Law’ for overseas-based players. Its criteria stipulates Aussies playing abroad must have previously accrued at least 60 Wallabies caps to be eligible for selection.
Fijian rugby picks their players regardless of where they are based. Naiyarovoro has represented Australia, of course, but there is a loophole that could enable him to also represent his nation of birth. It would involve him first representing the Fijian sevens team in an Olympic qualifier, thereby essentially changing his nationality in World Rugby’s eyes.
Perhaps Australia will consider altering (or axing) the aforementioned law in the future. Changing it could enable players of Naiyaravoro’s calibre to keep contributing to the national team.
As for now, though, one of Australia’s most destructive players has bolted – most probably never to return.
Taqele Naiyaravoro’s CV
• Two Wallabies caps
• 47 Waratahs caps
• 22 Glasgow Warriors caps
• 41 Northampton Saints caps
• 13 Panasonic Wild Knights caps
• One Super Rugby title (2014)
• One Premiership Cup title (2019)
• 15 tries in one season (Waratahs record)
• Also represented: Barbarians twice (vs South Africa and England), World XV (vs Japan), Sydney Rams (NRC), West Harbour (Shute Shield), Parramatta (Shute Shield), Otahuhu RC (Auckland), Wests Tigers (NSW Premiership Cup)
Note: This article originally stated Naiyaravoro no longer has any eligibility barriers to playing for Fiji. This is incorrect, and the article has been updated to reflect as much.
JamesDuncan
Roar Guru
Yes, they didn't disguise their strategy late in that game. That was one of the few times Saints have employed him off the bench. He has started most games this season.
egbert
Guest
Watched the Northampton v Wasps game last weekend in which TN scored the matchwinning try in the 78th minute. The way he was used in this game was interesting, and is perhaps what his role could/should have been in Australia. He started on the bench and that came on I think between 50 and 60 minutes, and was used mainly as a battering ram close to the ruck, which was particularly effective close to the line as his try showed. Admittedly he seemed to be hidden from high balls etc, but he looked fitter and leaner too. He is the archetypal 'impact player' and is good for an explosive 20 minutes or so. Which is fine.
The Crow Flies Backwards
Roar Rookie
He wouldn't even tie Lomus boot laces
JamesDuncan
Roar Guru
Thanks AH... he also nearly played rugby league for NZ...he was picked but never represented them. According to a NY Times article, Vuna played 7s for Tonga in 2016 which gave him eligibility for 15s. Naitarovoro could do this, but would he make Fiji's 7s team? Will be interesting to see.
JamesDuncan
Roar Guru
Hi Tooly, yes Koroibete is the exception to the other wingers in terms of his style of play.. By 'Knackers' do you mean Naitarovoro?
JamesDuncan
Roar Guru
Hi Paul, thanks for all of this. He was hopeful of playing in the Fijian 7s team last year but their management decided to stick with the players in the squad at the time, which is fair enough. His last test was in June 2016, so this may have been a barrier. I'm not sure if the three years starts from his last test or if it means three full years after that year.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Maybe he could be selected but "eat a dodgy egg" at breakfast on match day, or trip getting into the coach :happy:
Paul D
Roar Rookie
You can switch if you have not played for the first nation for 3 years and then go into the sevens program for a second country that you are eligible to qualify for and play in 4 Olympic qualifying events. You are then free to switch He last played for Aus in 2015. So if he went the 7's path he could get there. Not sure he could crack their 7's program on merit though. He is also eligible for Scotland, so could go that route if they wanted him
Armchair Halfback
Roar Rookie
Hey James, ex Wallaby Cooper Vuna played for Tonga in RWC, so there must be some criteria for playing for a 2nd test country?
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Knackers should have been a our first picked winger. It took Cheika 4 years to teach Koreibeti Rugby. DHP, Hodge or AAC these days are international wingers
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Yes no doubt James :) If he ever does learn to defend, kick and take high balls he'd be a good Test standard winger. But until then he'll remain a good provincial standard one :)
JamesDuncan
Roar Guru
I'm with you Purdo. The likes of Skelron, Kerevi, Arnold should be able to represent their country regardkess of who they play for. There are murmurs of changes to the law this year. We'll have to wait and see.
Purdo
Roar Rookie
JD, I can see this flip side as well. I think it’s a question that needs to be discussed. At the moment, I am for more fewer restrictions on the careers of Australian players, and the possibility of employing the very best Australian players to represent their country while plying their trade globally.
JamesDuncan
Roar Guru
Hi Purdo, many Aussie players are going abroad and becoming better players. It does seem a shame that most of them are ineligible for Wallabies selection. However, I do see the flip side of the argument in that it encourages them to stay and play Super Rugby.
JamesDuncan
Roar Guru
Hi Ethan, apologies, I was not quite correct, I'm afraid. It can be done through a loophole involving 7s, but otherwise he cannot switch.
JamesDuncan
Roar Guru
Hi NTJ. Thank you for that information. I got my facts wrong, I'm afraid. I appreciate the heads up.
JamesDuncan
Roar Guru
Thank you, Chris. I got that one wrong.
Not THAT JT
Roar Rookie
Once played for an international team, that's it, I'm afraid. Residency is only for the first international team if you're foreign-born. Regulation 8.2 - T has been "captured" by Wallabies and ineligible for Fiji, regardless of how long he has been out of Australia. 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.
Chris
Guest
Once you are capped you are tied to that nation for life. There is an Olympic loophole that can be used to change nationality, but he would have to represent Fiji in an Olympic qualifier to trigger it.
Purdo
Roar Rookie
With respect to the Giteau Law, I think in an international professional sport like Rugby Union, players should be encouraged to master their trade by getting international experience and then bringing it back to Australia for the elite game here. This is practice in all areas of endeavour. Musicians and scientists study and work overseas; traditionally tradesmen just out of their apprenticeships became "journeymen" - i.e. they traveled to master their trades. I recall reading as far back as the early 60s of cricket players who went to England and played county or league cricket, and then came back to represent Australia. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me to deny Wallaby selection to Australian players who play the game overseas, provided they are Australian, and played in Australia in their apprentice years. (I like the country of origin concept, which works well at the state level in League, where there were historical financial reasons why Qld couldn't compete with NSW as players moved south because of poker machine revenue available only in NSW). I'm not sure exactly what a rugby apprenticeship means, because there aren't formal apprenticeships in the game, but I like the analogy. In reality there are contracts on offer only for good players who are assessed by contracting clubs as knocking on the door of test selection. By extension of this, should we not also contract promising players from overseas to play at elite level here (whatever that may turn out to be, in a decade, say)? It would be good to have something like NRC as a pathway to the fully professional elite. I think we should avoid the parochial notion that "the Australian Way" is the way to beat the rest of the world. It seems that Fiji is happy to welcome its own back with their overseas experience.