Highlanders’ outside backs Jona Nareki and Jacob Kneepkens-Ratumaitavuki have shown their interest in playing for the Fiji Water Flying Fijians, but their contract with their club under the New Zealand Rugby Union does not allow them to do so, because of a clause that states that they have to be available for the All Blacks.
This was revealed by Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne while speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan.
Byrne says he has had a brief discussion with both players and they have shown their interest in playing for Fiji, but they are worried that if they come and play for Fiji, they may not be able to get their Super Rugby contract honoured.
He says at the moment, every player playing in New Zealand, whether they are from Tongan, Samoa, Fiji, or any of the European countries, they are available to play for the All Blacks, doesn't matter what nationality.
Byrne says for former Fiji U20s winger, Timoci Tavatavanawai, he chose to move to the Highlanders so he could pursue a career with the All Blacks, so Byrne could not pick him for the Flying Fijians.
He says New Zealand get to pick players from four or five countries and adds that all Fiji Rugby wants is to have our Fijians play for Fiji.
Byrne says at some stage it will be great for NZ to say, a Fijian player is not going to be an All Black, so they will actually release that player.
Byrne says they are talking about maybe two or three players that have been playing in NZ for four or five years and haven't been selected for the ABs, or possibly won't get selected, the Flying Fijians selectors would love to have their services.
He says it would be great for NZRU to release these players to play for Fiji and they will still honour the players’ Super Rugby Pacific contracts because that is the thing the players are worried about.
Meanwhile, the Super Rugby Pacific final between the Crusaders and the Chiefs will kick off at 7.05pm Saturday at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.
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