Former England international Nathan Hughes has confirmed his decision to switch allegiance to Fiji after being named in their wider squad over the weekend.
The 35-year-old was included in Fiji’s 68-player squad preparing for their Test against Japan later this month before travelling to the northern hemisphere for the Nations Championship.
The squad is expected to be trimmed before the fixtures, meaning Hughes will still have to make the final cut.
He experienced a similar situation during the summer, when he was included in Fiji’s wider squad before missing out on selection for the eventual Nations Championship matches.
Born in Fiji in 1991, Hughes moved to New Zealand as a teenager after catching the eye during a school rugby tour. He went on to develop through the Auckland system before making his provincial debut in 2011.
Hughes represented the Fiji Warriors in 2013 but soon moved to England, joining Wasps and quickly establishing himself as one of the Premiership’s most powerful back-row forwards.
His performances eventually earned him international recognition with England. He made his debut against South Africa in November 2016 and went on to win 22 caps between 2016 and 2019, featuring at flanker, number eight and lock.
After leaving Wasps, Hughes joined Bristol Bears in 2019 before moving to Bath in 2022. He made an immediate impact during his short spell at the club before continuing his career overseas.
A move to France followed, with Hughes eventually joining Racing 92 in 2025.
Changes to international eligibility rules have allowed Hughes to remain eligible for Fiji, having never played a senior Test match for the country.
Since leaving Bath for Black Rams Tokyo in 2022, Hughes had been unable to represent England.
Having now completed the required stand-down period, he is eligible to play for Fiji and has subsequently been named in their wider squad.
His selection comes at a time when Hughes is still showing his quality at the highest level. The forward came off the bench for Racing 92 against Perpignan this weekend and marked his appearance with a try.
Fiji have been drawn alongside Argentina, Spain and Canada at the upcoming tournament in Australia.
Their summer Nations Championship campaign was a difficult one, with Fiji losing all three matches against Wales, England and Scotland.
Hughes could now provide valuable experience and power as they look to make a stronger impression and progress deep into the competition.
