FLYING FIJIANS
fullback Setareki Tuivucu will join Brive RC for Top 14 in France
Fiji Airways Flying Fijians fullback Setareki Tuivucu is joining Brive RC when the Top 14 rugby training resumes in France on June 8.
Nadroga Rugby Union technical advisor Franck Boivert believes the Moala, Nadi native will unleash his true potential when he teams up with fellow Ratu Navula College student Sevanaia Galala. Both were among the 11 standby players for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Tuicuvu is among the five players named by coach Jeremy Davidson after 10 playetrs opted out after the cancellation of the 2019/20 season on May 2. “He is a very talented but a shy player. He is a fantastic counterattacking fullback,”Boivert said.
“Every time he plays for Clermont, he attacks very well but should unleash his full potential and click when he teams up with Galala since they were both former students of Ratu Navula and 2019 RWC Flying Fijians squad members.
“Seta is also a good kicker.” The 25-year-old arrived in Clermont as a JIFF* player in 2016 and has been an exciting player ever before making his debut for the Flying Fijians in 2018 against Scotland. He since went on to feature for Clermont in five of their Top 14 matches. He played alongside fellow Fijians Peceli Yato, Alivereti Raka and Apisai Naqalevu for Clermont and he will soon team up with Setareki Bituniyata, Eneriko Buliruarua, Mesake Doge, Galala and Kitione Kamikamica at Brive. According to Rugby Pass, Tuivucu will be released by Clermont when Top 14 training resumes.
Brive is in 11th place with seven wins and a draw in 17 outings before the season was stopped in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
Rated by former coach John
McKee but- always an understudy to Flying Fijians fullback Kini Murimurivalu, Brive hopes Tuicuvu La Rochelle winger Valentin Tirefort, Edinburgh prop Pietro Ceccarelli, Beziers centre Wesley Douglas and Bordeaux hooker Florian Dufour will provide the spark for struggling Brive team ahead of the new season.
“Our desire is to work with the current group, which has a good room for improvement with some classy players,” said Brive managing director Xavier Ric to Midi Olympique following the club’s first season back in the top flight following their 2017/18 relegation.
“We are waiting to have more visibility on the budgetary part before possibly continuing our recruitment. The club is used to being careful about this.” Hoping to move into a new training centre in September, Brive announced a five-year kit deal with Adidas.
Meanwhile, Fijians playing in the Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Guiness Pro 14 and Top 14 will be able to rejoin their clubs in Europe in July.
This was Fiji Airways announced the cancellation of all international scheduled flights through to the end of July. The cancellations are due to prolonged border closures and travel restrictions as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the players affected are Semi Kunatani (Harlequins), Tevita Ratuva (Bordeaux-Begles) and Leone Nakarawa (Glasgow Warriors). Andre Viljoen, Fiji Airways
Managing Director and CEO said: “Given that there is still next to no demand for international air travel in the region, regrettably, we have been forced to cancel our July schedules, with further reductions expected inAugust 2020.
Fiji Airways is contacting impacted guests who are booked to travel in July.
Guests booked through travel agents and third parties will be contacted by those parties.
*What JIFF (Joueurs Issus des Filières de Formation means: The player must spend at least three years in the French Centre Ge Formation (academies). After three years they are considered as French players and are qualified for the Top 14 and other competitions. JIFF players valued more than a player that is non-JIFF.
A player is eligible to join the academies under the JIFF criteria as soon as he turns 19.