Seeking Opportunities

Super Rugby Aotearoa clubs could play warm-up matches here?

The Fiji Rugby Union confirmed yesterday it is having talks with New Zealand Rugby on possible visits here by their provincial sides to play against local teams.

FRU chief executive officer John O’Connor said they were also having discussions with the New Zealand Super Rugby franchise clubs of the possibility of coming to Fiji to play warm-up matches.

“These are opportunities we’re working on,” O’Connor said. “But again everything will depend on the border restrictions.”

The Super Rugby Aotearoa has a strong following in the country with 13 Fijian players playing in the competition while 10 are eligible to play for the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians.

One of the rising stars of the competition is Blues No.8 Hoskins Sotutu who hails from Tavea in Bua.

The 21-year-old said he still had plenty to learn and having had a taste of Super Rugby last year, the bruising back-rower is now relishing his regular starting role. Since then, Sotutu has only grown from strength to strength. At the start of the year, Blues coach Leon MacDonald took a punt, when he replaced the inconsistent Akira Ioane in favour of Sotutu.

“He’s a gifted player,” said

MacDonald.

“He steals ball on the ground, he rips it out of people’s hands. He can offload, great in the lineout.”

Sotutu’s rapid rise has been hard to miss and talk of a potential All Blacks call up has been unavoidable.

“It’s in the back of my mind,” Sotutu told Newshub.

“I guess it’s a bit tough at the moment, especially with my family. They’re quite proud of me and they’re always sending me articles back from Fiji.” O’Connor also indicated that FRU is well aware of talks being done by the Fiji National Sports

Commission with sporting organisations in New Zealand. Commission chairman Peter Mazey had told SUNsports that from talks with New Zealand they were certainly keen in a Fijian team to be part of their new tournament.

“We may have provincial games played in Fiji. Games such as football, rugby, netball or any other sport. It’s not only rugby,” Mazey said.

“The discussions we had earlier on is maybe Waikato, Manuwatu playing Nadi or Lautoka rugby the same will be for netball teams.”

Mazey said it was almost likely of Fiji being part of the New Zealand circuit or New Zealand becoming part of our circuit.