Superstar Semi Radradra will miss out on the historic back-to-back Test matches against the All Blacks in New Zealand next month paving the way for the Bristol Bears’ centre to eye a spot in the Fijian 7s 13-member squad to defend the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Radradra together with France-based Aminiasi Tuimaba and Vilimoni Botitu are three overseas players on Fijian 7s head coach Gareth Baber’s radar for the Olympic Games campaign. Botitu has been named in the 33-member Flying Fijians extended for the two tests.
The Tokyo Olympic Games have set a mandatory 14 days’ quarantine period to participate in the event.
However, New Zealand has a 14 days’ quarantine period making it difficult for Radradra to be in time for the first test on July 10 in Dunedin since his club will be involved in the English Premiership semi-final next weekend.
Fiji Rugby in a press release stated that since Radradra will not be able to make the 14 days’ mandatory quarantine, he therefore will be part of the Olympic Games preparations with the Fijian 7s team.
Flying Fijians head coach Vern Cotter has named a mixture of experienced and young players for the two Test matches.
Cotter said they had an exciting squad with the perfect opportunity for the players who had been training well to be given the exposure within the squad against other confirmed international players.
“We are looking forward to getting this group together and we will have to keep things simple,” he said.
