Former All Blacks and Chiefs backrower Pita Gus Sowakula has shown his interest in switching allegiance and playing for the Fiji Water Flying Fijians.
This was revealed by Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne while speaking during fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan.
Byrne says he has spoken to Sowakula, and he becomes available to play for Fiji when his post-All Blacks career finishes on July 6th, 2025.
He says Sowakula will be coming over to Fiji to get married and they will talk further about his future of playing for the Flying Fijians, but Sowakula is happy to join the team.
Byrne further says he has also spoken to Crusaders prop George Bower and Blues number 8 Hoskins Sotutu as they would be available to play for Fiji at the end of the year.
He says, however, the two players are tied up in their NZ contracts as Bower just recently re-signed for the Crusaders while Sotutu still has a couple more years in his contract with the Blues.
He adds that maybe both the players are still in contention for All Blacks selection, but there are other players who are very keen to play for the Flying Fijians.
Meanwhile, Byrne has announced his final 32-member squad for the upcoming July tests against the Wallabies and Scotland, as well as the Pacific Nations Cup.
The Flying Fijians are scheduled to play the Wallabies on 6th July in Newcastle, Australia.
They then play Scotland on the 12th of July at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
