January has come and gone but what a month it was. Agen centre Kolinio Ramoka opened the year with the 1st try amongst our players and Toshiba’s winger Jone Naikabula scored a hat-trick on the opening weekend. Jiuta Wainiqolo and Marika Koroibete scored tries that will be shown all year long and Peceli Yato made his long awaited return from injury. We saw the debuts of the man they call “The Flash” Peniasi Dakuwaqa, Junior Ratuva scored on his debut for SAXV Charente and the HSBC Sevens Series returned to Hamilton and Sydney.
Enter February and we’re a matter of weeks away from the MLR Season kickoff, Super Rugby and hopefully the naming of a new head coach for the Flying Fijians.
We arrive at weekend 5 of 2023, the Gallagher Premiership & URC take a 3 week break while the 2nd Tier English Rugby League Competition kicks off. lets take a look at all the Fijians who will turn out for their respective clubs this weekend.
Jump to – Pro D2 | Top 14 |Championship RL | League One | Super Rugby Trials | Tryscorers
Embed from Getty ImagesPro D2 Round 19 Feb 2-3
Rouen – Benito Masilevu 11 | Oyonnax – Joe Ravouvou 14
Masilevu scored his 4th try of the season. The Former Flying Fijian has played more matches two thirds the way into the season then he did last year for Grenoble. 12 matches, starting all of them.
A big win for the 9th placed Rouen over the competition leaders 17-13.
Biarritz – Johnny Dyer 5 vs Vannes
Dyer returns to the starting side back in his usual lock position for Biarritz. They get back in the winners circle this week with a tough 19-13 victory. Vannes had 3 yellow cards in this match.
Beziers – Watisoni Votu 22 | Soyaux – Nasoni Naqiri 12, Ledua Mau 13, Sikeli Nabou 18
Beziers won this match 22-13. Nabou was yellow carded in the 73rd minute.
Stade Montois – Veresa Ramototabua 8, Kaminieli Rasaku 11 | Provence – Adrian Sanday 22
A big upset despite most of Mont de Marsan’s top players returning including Rasaku. Their 7 game win streak is broken at the hands of the 12th placed Provence who were without Luke Tagi and Eroni Sau. Final score Provence 28-12.
Montauban – Sevanaia Galala 12, Epeli Momo 20, Semesa Rokoduguni 22 | Colomiers – Peni Rokoduguni 14
Galala plays his first match for Montauban since leaving Brive in the Top 14. Momo returns to the side while the Rokoduguni brothers meet for the 2nd time this season.
Montauban kicked 2 penalties in the final 10 minutes to get the win 25-19.
Nevers – Alivereti Loaloa 13 | Aurillac – Christa Powell 12
Nevers kept Aurillac tryless. 6 penalties kicked by Aurillac keeping it respectable while Nevers only 1 conversion from 4 attempts. Final score Nevers 22-18.
Grenoble – Pio Muarua 8 | Agen – Timilai Rokoduru 14
Grenoble a little too good winning 20-16.
Embed from Getty ImagesTop 14 Round 17 Feb 4-5
Bayonne – Eneriko Buliruarua 12 @ Toulouse
No Sireli Maqala this weekend but Buliruarua earns another start after probably his best performance for Bayonne last weekend in their win over his former club Brive.
Final score Toulouse 21-16.
Clermont – Peceli Yato 7, Alivereti Raka 11 | Castres – Filipo Nakosi 11, Vilimoni Botitu 12, Adrea Cocagi 13, Josaia Raisuqe 19
It only took 1 game for Yato to get his starting spot back. This match shapes up as the game of the round. Castres have selected their star backline trio with Raisuqe coming off the bench.
A game that remained close until the final 30 minutes when Yato exploded with 3 tries. Prior to this match Yato had only played 11 minutes of rugby in over 12 months. Raisuqe also scored a try but was red carded for a cleanout gone wrong. Cocagi also yellow carded for head contact. Final score 41-26 Clermont.
Brive – Tevita Ratuva 4, Setariki Tuicuvu 13, Setareki Bituniyata 14 | Perpignan – Eddie Sawailau 12
After going through a 9 game losing streak during the season (including Challenge Cup matches) Brive have won 4 of their last 6. Tuicuvu in particular has been very good at centre. Bituniyata returns to the wing after starting the past 2 games at 12.
Sawailau scored the winning try 6 minutes from fulltime. The bustling centre beat several defenders to score next to the posts. Perpignan with a 24-22 victory.
Pau – Lekima Tagitagivalu 18 | Racing – Peniami Narisia 2, Kitione Kamikamica 8, Ben Volavola 20, Inia Tabuavou 21
Narisia starts for the 2nd time at his new club. Kamikamica is going through a purple streak at the moment showing some very good form while Tabuavou returns. Pau have lost their last 5 matches while Racing are undefeated in their last 3 outings. No Jale Vatubua this week for Pau, Aminiasi Tuimaba out injured.
Pau proved too strong winning 38-19.
La Rochelle – Levani Botia 6 | Lyon – Temo Mayanavanua 5, Noa Nakaitaci 11, Josua Tuisova 12, Tavite Veredamu 14
Botia earns a start against a Lyon team who have named all their Fijians this weekend. Mayanavanua is in career best form at the moment and Tuisova at 12 has worked really well for LOU who have won their last 2 games.
Again the Lyon quartet were all heavily involved. Tuisova’s 66th minute try proved the difference with LOU winning 20-16.
Montpellier – Masivesi Dakuwaqa 6 | Toulon – Jiuta Wainiqolo 11, Waisea Nayacalevu 13
Dakuwaqa gets his 2nd start this season and first match this year. Toulon have won their past 3 games while last years Champions are winless since round 15.
Both Nayacalevu and Wainiqolo scored tries helping Toulon win 20-18.
League One Round 7 Feb 4-5
Canon Eagles – Viliame Takayawa 11, Inoke Burua 14 | Black Rams – Netani Vakayalia 11, Nathan Hughes 19
The Black Rams coming off 2 losses to the 1st and 2nd placed teams. Yokohama very nearly knocked over the unbeaten Wild Knights last week. This is an intriguing match up but we’re leaning slightly towards the Canon Eagles. Vakayalia up against Burua is a mouth watering clash.
The clash between Vakayalia and Burua was worth the price of admission. The 2 in-form wingers had several highlight moments with Burua being named man of the match to top it off. He also scored his 3rd try of the season. Final scored Yokohama 34-13.
Toyota Verblitz – Viliame Tuidraki 15 vs Kubota Spears
No Vitaliai Tuidraki or Jone Nabetelevu this week. Viliame Tuidraki scored his first try for the club last week. They will find it tough against the 2nd placed Kubota side.
Final score Kubota 44-34.
Dynaboars – Epineri Uluiviti 20 vs Kobe Steelers
Uluiviti scored the final try for the Dynaboars and his 1st for the season. Kobelco were too good 30-49.
Brave Lupus – Michael Leitch 8, Seta Tamanivalu 13, Jone Naikabula 14 vs Suntory
Toshiba coming off 2 big wins where they posted at least 60 points on both occasions. They come up against another heavyweight this weekend but should probably be too good for Suntory who are still without Samu Kerevi.
Again Tamanivalu and Naikabula adding to their try tallies. Both with doubles in this match. Tamanivalu now has 5 tries in his last 3 games while Naikabula has 8 from his last 5. Suntory held on to win 40-34 in a thrilling match.
Green Rockets – Aseri Masivou 8, Taqele Naiyaravoro 23 | Wild Knights – Marika Koroibete 11
The Wild Knights escaped at the death last week but come up against NEC in a favourable matchup. Naiyaravoro returns for the Green Rockets.
Panasonic far too strong 45-0.
Kintetsu Liners – Semisi Masirewa 15 | Blue Revs – Samuela Anise 19
Kintetsu are the only side without a win. They are without Quade Cooper this year and so far Sanaila Waqa who is recovering from a broken arm.
Kintetsu slump to 7 straight defeats losing this match 14-34.
Division 2 Round Feb 5
Hino Red Dolphins vs Blue Sharks match has been cancelled due to off field drama involving Red Dolphins players.
Shokki Shuttles – Josh Matavesi 12 (c) @ Honda Heat
Matavesi with 2 brilliant try assists last weekend. He is named skipper for the 2nd straight game.
Matavesi was a late scratching. Honda Heat won 46-24.
The UK Championship will be back on March 4th, French Nationale 1 February 10th, France Elite 1 Rugby League February 11th.
Championship Rugby League Round 1 Feb 4-5
Whitehaven – Lasarusa Tabu 16 @ Bradford Bulls
Tabu has impressed during the trials. Should he make the final 17 this weekend it will be his first competition match in the Betfred Championship.
Tabu made his official debut. Whitehaven lost 8-24.
Super Rugby Trials Feb 4-5
Waratahs Team 1 – Nemani Nadolo 14, Team 2 – Langi Gleeson 8 vs Brumbies
Former Leicester winger Nadolo gets his first run since returning to the Waratahs who have named 2 sides splitting halves in this match. No Mark Nawaqanitawase this week. Brumbies are without Rob Valetini.
Western Force – Manasa Mataele 14 | Reds – Peni Ravai, Seru Uru, Filipo Daugunu, Ben Navosailagi
Mataele and the Western Force are expecting big things this year and face a tough matchup in their first trial. Ravai gets his first run in a Reds jersey while Navosailagi gets his first trial against a Super Rugby side. The Qld Hospital Cup winner from last year was one of the Western Bulldogs best and earns his spot on the Reds roster this season. No Suliasi Vunivalu for the Reds.
Tryscorers
Pro D2 – Benito Masilevu
Top 14 – Peceli Yato x 3, Josua Tuisova, Waisea Nayacalevu, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Setareki Bituniyata, Eddie Sawailau, Josaia Raisuqe
League One – Seta Tamanivalu x 2, Jone Naikabula x 2, Inoke Burua, Epeneri Uluiviti
