Former All Blacks Star Gets The Greenlight To Play For Tonga In Huge Move
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Former All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa is on the verge of playing for Tonga at Test level after it was revealed he will play for the Pacific Island nation at next weekend’s Olympic Sevens qualifying tournament in Monaco.
Fekitoa is one of four ex-New Zealand and Australian internationals who have switched their rugby allegiance to Tonga.
The 29-year-old will be joined by Wallabies utility forward Lopeti Timani, former Australian Sevens international Afusipa Taumoepeau, and former NZ sevens star Tima Fainga’anuku.
Fekitoa will link up with the Tonga Sevens squad in Monaco following Wasps’ final Premiership fixture against Leicester on Saturday.
If he plays in 50 percent of Tonga’s games at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Monaco, Fekitoa will become eligible to play for Tonga’s national team.
Players are allowed to switch their international allegiance by playing in an Olympic qualifying event, provided they possess a passport for the second country and have completed a stand-down period of three years.
If he plays in 50 percent of Tonga’s games at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Monaco, Fekitoa will become eligible to play for Tonga’s national team and will likely make his Test debut during the November internationals.
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