"RFU on board" - Nathan Hughes and four other players who've confirmed they're swapping nations
Rugby NewsThursday, 06 January 2022 at 12:06
They all want to swap nations ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
#1. Nathan Hughes (England to Fiji)
- Age: 30
- Position: Number 8
- Current number of caps: 20
- Last cap: March, 2019
- Did you know? His uncle, Asaeli Hughes, is a former dual international having represented Fiji in both basketball and 15s rugby
Hughes, who grew up in the sugar cane town of Lautoka on the west coast of the main Fijian island of Viti Levu, has. revealed that he has full support from the RFU to swap nations. England speedster Denny Solomona is also set to make himself available for Fiji.
Try Celebrations for Nathan Hughes of Bristol Bears of Bristol Bears during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bristol Bears and Newcastle Falcons at Ashton Gate on 1 Jan. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#2. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (New Zealand to Samoa)
- Current number of caps: 1
- Age at the start of RWC 2023: 32
- Did you know: He won 24 caps for the All Blacks between 2014 and 2017
The one-cap All Black is exploring the possibility of adding to his 12-minute international career, which was ended in 2018 when he made the decision to move to England and join Wasps - where he recently passed a half-century of appearances. Toomaga-Allen's hopes of representing Samoa through his mother's side of the family hinge on World Rugby's vote later this month to change international eligibility rules.
#3. Malakai Fekitoa (New Zealand to Tonga)
- Current number of caps: 41
- Age at the start of RWC 2023: 32
- Did you know: He won 24 caps for the All Blacks between 2014 and 2017
Fekitoa, capped 24 times by New Zealand, qualified for Tonga using a loophole in eligibility rules through playing rugby sevens in an Olympic qualifier during the summer.
#4. Charles Piutau (New Zealand to Tonga)
- Current number of caps: 20
- Age at the start of RWC 2023: 32
- Did you know? He is the younger brother of 42-cap Tonga centre Siale Piutau.
Piutau, who started his career with Tonga U20 side last played for All Blacks in July 2015 after he was omitted from the World Cup squad that year and his move to Europe effectively ended his chance of Test recall under Steve Hansen.
The Bristol back hopes it starts a revolution in Pacific Island rugby.
"I'm really happy for the Pacific nations," Piutau said.
The 30-year-old told the BBC's Sports Desk podcast: "It's not the answer to everything - it's just the start.
"Having more scheduled games, more games against Tier One nations, the two teams that have joined the Super Rugby competition will add more depth, [while] the experienced players [switching nationality] will be able to add into the Pacific nations."
#5. Taqele Naiyaravoro (Australia to FIji)
In an interview with the Daily Mail’s Nik Simon, the Northampton Saints winger international winger said he would ‘100 perc cent’ play for Fiji.
I’m 28 and I’ve still got the best years ahead of me, so the opportunity to play for Fiji would be a dream come true,’ he told Sportsmail.
‘I have no regrets about playing for Australia. I was pretty young at the time when the opportunity came along and I went for it.
‘But Fiji has always been in my heart. It’s where I was born. When I left Fiji for Australia, my dream was to play for Fiji. I would 100 per cent commit to Fiji if that opportunity came along.’
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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