Have Hull unearthed successor to flying winger Naulago?

HULL FC have invited Fijian rugby union winger Mitieli Vulikijapani to join the club on trial for the remainder of pre-season.

Vulikijapani is a member of the British Army and is expected to link up with the Black and Whites in the near future, with Brett Hodgson and the club’s coaching staff keen to take a closer look at him.

The Fijian has little experience of rugby league, but has represented the Army in the 15-man code and sevens, while he has also featured for a number of clubs as an invite in the Premiership Sevens. He has also played union at an amateur level for Marlborough in Wiltshire, who are in the sixth tier of the English rugby union pyramid.

However, while the 13-man code is new to him, the FC hierarchy see potential in his skillset as a player and are keen to see him in action on the training field.

He will travel up to East Yorkshire soon, where he will attempt to get to grips with rugby league at the club’s County Road training ground, hoping to earn a professional contract for the coming Super League season.

Vulikijapani has played in a number of positions across the back line in union, as a winger, centre or full-back and he will train as an outside back with the club.

FC have been looking for a winger with pace since Ratu Naulago left for Bristol Bears over the off-season, but will reserve their full judgement until the end of pre-season before deciding whether to offer him a deal.