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Hulking Fijian Olympic Sevens gold medallist Kunatani on his way to Premiership
By Online Editors
Harlequins have signed Fijian Olympic Games gold medal winner Semi Kunatani from Toulouse
Kunatani was a member of the Fijian Sevens team that won the gold medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
He played in all six matches in the tournament and scored four tries in the final where Fiji defeated Great Britain by 43-7. He has also been capped the Fijian national team.
The 27-year-old, who is comfortable playing across the back row, joins the west London club from Toulouse where he has been based since the start of the 2015/16 season.
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Commenting on the signing, Harlequins Head of Rugby Paul Gustard said, “I am delighted to welcome Semi to the club. He is a precocious talent and someone I have been watching for a considerable time. I am confident that our exceptional supporters will relish watching him play and give him their support as he embarks on the next stage of his young career.
“Semi offers us something completely different to our other back row brothers and given the attritional nature of the playing position and impending international call-ups, his signing gives us much-needed depth and adds further quality to the squad.
Speaking on his arrival from France, Semi Kunatani said, “I’m excited about joining Harlequins at the start of this new era for the club and looking forward to playing at The Stoop. The club has many top players and this is a great opportunity for me to play with them and contribute to a successful team.”
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Latest Comments
Which people exactly?
Go to commentsWas anything but fine margins, the scoreline was flattering for that game. They were beat in every margin but most emphatically be effort of Argentina. They were slow and likely arrogant in their prep following the England series. You can see the effect on the selection and poor messaging all the playmakers started receiving from the coaching setup there after.
Otherwise though there was also a lot of really good stuff that can too easily be labelled as lucky by people intent on making a point. The team was far from certain and clinical though and the best that can be said of their losses was that they were largely due to some atrocious decisions with cards twice against SA and the neckroll last weekend (you can't take away the 14 point try, that is typical French rugby and to be expected).
This team is good enough to be able to cope with those sorts of difficulties if they could just execute a bit better (but only as well as they have traditionally mind you). Sound selections aside. Some good positivity in this article but we know it's not going to be easy as the ABs have just been trying to return to their DNA after Fosters control but countries like Aussie have a much bigger task in that respect and SA is even trying to change their DNA (again). Those two opponents (along with France obviously) are going to provide some tough competition in seeing who can lead into the 2027 RWC with the best prospects and form behind them.
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