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'Super Sefa' the latest Wallaby set to jump Aussie ship - reports
By Online Editors
Sefa Naivalu is the latest Wallaby set to make the switch to European rugby.
The Fijian born winger has apparently signed for Stade Francais and will arrive following the Rugby World Cup in Japan - according to Midi Olympique.
The 6'1, 101kg wing has played eight Tests for the Wallabies, and is in the first weeks of his inaugural season with the Queensland Reds, having signed from the Melbourne Rebels.
It's a blow for the Wallabies - post World Cup at least - as Naivalu has been in fine form, scoring five tries in nine games. According to Midi, he's signed a two and half year contract.
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One of the original NRC stars, Naivalu became the first Dewar Shield player to sign for the Melbourne Rebels. He overcame a broken leg in 2015 to push his claims for national selection with five tries for the Rebels in as many games at the back end of the tournament.
In 2016 Naivalu won his first Test cap off the bench against to South Africa in Pretoria. He picked up a further five Test caps over the rest of the season including his first start against France in Paris.
In 2017 Naivalu scored two tries before he suffered an ankle injury in his lone Test against Italy at Brisbane. On his return to rugby with the Melbourne Rising in the NRC Naivalu was forced off with a shoulder injury that subsequently required surgery to end any hope he had of featuring in the remainder of The Rugby Championship or the Spring Tour.
Last month he made his Queensland Reds debut from the left wing following his transfer from the Rebels.
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Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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