Nadolo has no regrets about playing for Fiji instead of the Wallabies
BUT WINGER HAS RESERVATIONS ABOUT POTENTIAL RULE CHANGES
LEICESTER Tigers and Fiji winger Nemani Nadolo has shared his reservations about potential rule changes that will allow players to switch their international allegiance.
The World Rugby Council will next week meet to vote on proposals that would enable rugby players to represent the country of their or their ancestors’ birth after a threeyear stand-down period from their last international cap.
Former All Blacks star Charles Piutau, last capped by New Zealand in 2015, tops a list of names wanting to make a switch and represent Tonga.
Malakai Fekitoa, capped 24 times by the All Blacks, has already made the leap using a loophole in the Olympic Sevens qualifiers while his Wasps team-mate Jeffery ToomagaAllen, whose one New Zealand cap came back in 2013, is keen on a switch to Samoa.
In theory, if the rule change is approved, the likes of Bristol Bears’ England international Nathan Hughes could switch to being eligible for Fiji from 2022 - while others such as Bath’s Semesi Rokoduguni would be eligible straight away, having earned the last of his four England caps in 2017.
Nadolo was born in the Fijian town of Sigatoka and has represented his country 32 times over an international career spanning 11 years.
“To be honest I am kind of on the fence about it,” said Nadolo.
“There’s that saying, you make your bed, you lie in it.
“Rugby is changing. For me, it’s one of those subjects.
“You want the best players to play for your country, but at the same time, if you’ve made a decision to play for one country, then you should be playing for them.
“If they were to change the rules, it should be case by case.
“If they really need someone in that position, then put them in there.”
Nadolo and his Leicester Tigers team-mate Kini Murimurivalu were left out of Fiji’s squad for the Autumn Nations Series – but Nadolo was an interested spectator as his country pushed Wales all the way on Sunday despite being reduced to 14 men early on.
His reservations about opening up the eligibility rules hinge on potentially stifling young talent that is coming through the ranks.
“You’re trying to get two bites at the cherry I guess,” Nadolo said.
“For me, I think of the young guys coming through that don’t have the option to play for another country.
“So, I am kind of on the fence about it, but that’s just my opinion.”
Nadolo moved to Australia with his family at only three months old and played for Queensland Schoolboys, Perth Spirt, Manly and Randwick.
He then exploded onto the international scene with the Wallabies U20s at the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship, where he was the tournament’s top try scorer with seven.
His club career has taken in two spells in France at Bourgoin and Montpellier as well as four years at
NEC Green Rockets in Japan.
After a brief spell with Exeter Chiefs a decade ago, Nadolo returned to England with Leicester Tigers in 2019 – where he has scored nine tries in 23 games.
Staying with Australia would likely have led to more Test caps for a player of his pedigree and increased his chances of international silverware – but Nadolo has no regrets.
“I was in that position, I chose Fiji,” he said.
“I stuck by it, stuck to it. I was fortunate enough, it took me to some of the best places in the world to play my rugby.
“I made a decision, and I haven’t regretted it since then.”