Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne has made three pressured modifications to the squad for the upcoming Autumn Nations Collection, with a proficient trio withdrawing their availability as a consequence of harm.
Fiji Rugby confirmed on Friday that ahead Lekima Tagitagivalu has been dominated out of the November internationals alongside Paris Olympics silver medallists Iosefo Masi and Ponipate Loganimasi.
2025 HSBC SVNS Collection Dream Workforce consultant Joji Nasova has been known as into the Flying Fijians squad after impressing through the Pacific Nations Cup, beginning on the appropriate wing in opposition to Japan within the match decider final month.
Fijian Drua lock Kitione Salawa has been introduced into the nationwide squad after making two appearances through the PNC, alongside Toulon centre Setariki Tuicuvu who replaces Masi on this Flying Fijians group.
“It’s disappointing for gamers that had been named within the squad. It’s all the time disappointing when harm forces gamers out of a squad,” Byrne mentioned in an announcement. “However on the similar time, it’s a chance for gamers to come back in and take their alternative.
“Once more, as a part of these picks, there’s a big selection base now. It’s by no means a straightforward determination selecting gamers, nevertheless it’s round workforce stability and what’s greatest for the workforce. We’re lucky that we now have such a deep pool of gamers to select from.”
Nasova provides real x-factor to this Fiji squad, having starred on the SVNS Collection. Nice Britain’s Harry Glover, Spain’s Manu Moreno and Pol Pla, Argentina’s Luciano Gonzalez and Marcos Moneta, and France’s Paulin Riva had been additionally named within the 2025 SVNS Dream Workforce.
It was reported about 155 days in the past that Nasova had penned a two-year cope with the Drua in Tremendous Rugby Pacific, earlier than the thrilling rugby sensation earned worldwide honours within the 15s recreation through the PNC.
Coach Byrne chosen Nasova on the bench for the semi-final conflict with Canada, with the previous SVNS Collection star scoring one attempt off the pine. Nasova scored a double in his beginning debut for the Flying Fijians, as they secured the PNC title with a hard-fought win over Japan.
Salawa had performed 4 Check matches for Fiji earlier than this yr’s PNC, that includes within the third spherical conflict with Samoa at openside flanker, earlier than Byrne chosen the backrower within the matchday 23 on the bench for the PNC Closing.
As for Tuicuvu, the utility again hasn’t represented the Flying Fijians in a Check match since November 2022, beginning at fullback in a 35-17 loss to Ireland in Dublin. After impressing for Toulon in France’s High 14, Tuicuvu is again within the nationwide fold.
“With Loganimasi popping out, it offers Joji Nasova one other time, one other alternative” Byrne defined.
“He confirmed within the PNC that he’s bought an enormous upside to his recreation. And we’d prefer to proceed rising him and giving him a chance to proceed to develop throughout the workforce.
“Yeah, I feel that was a really powerful determination,” he added about Tagitagivalu being dominated out.
“We simply really feel that, you realize, Kiti’s a participant that we really feel has bought one other lot of development in him. And we noticed him flip a nook in PNC round what’s required at this degree. And we’d like, you realize, we all know that he can carry out and we’re going to offer him one other alternative to come back in and take one other step in his improvement.”
