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22 February, 2026, 7:55 am
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22 February, 2026, 7:55 am Central - 23°C Clear

Players selection will be based on merit and form - Raiwalui

Players selection will be based on merit and form - Raiwalui

By Mosese Raqio
28/02/2023
Flying Fijians Head Coach Simon Raiwalui

Flying Fijians Head Coach Simon Raiwalui says the selection process for the 33-member squad that will head to the Rugby World Cup in France will be based on merit and form.

During the announcement of the coaching staff for the RWC, Raiwalui says he will also be expecting most of the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players that participated in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific last season to also put their hands up for selection.

He says the Drua players have been performing well going into their second year of participation in the Super Rugby Pacific.

He further says he will be making a trip to Europe next month to assess the Europe-based players’ performances as well.

The coach says they will be starting their selection process after the first test match against Tonga in July this year with a wider training squad before selecting the final 33 players for the RWC after their final test match against England in August.

The Flying Fijians will be playing their first test against Tonga on July 22nd in Suva, they will then take on Samoa in Apia on 29th July, and will then play Japan in Tokyo on the 5th of August. They will later take on France on the 19th of August in France before heading to Twickenham to play England on the 26th of August for their final test match.

FNRL
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