News about Malakai Fekitoa

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: The Lions are in talks about facing a combined Pacific Island XV in Melbourne next year, in a potentially blockbuster tour fixture between the first and second Tests against Australia. Following the collapse of the Rebels franchise, which had been based in the state capital of Victoria, officials from Rugby Australia and the Lions have been contingency planning to establish alternative opposition options for the game on July 22, 2025 at Marvel Stadium. Initially, there were indications that an invitational side would be created under the banner of Australia 'A' or Melbourne, based on a squad of Australian players, but the focus has now shifted to an imported solution. Mail Sport understands that talks were due to take place today (Thursday) in Paris, between RA and Lions board members, with the fixture change among several items on the agenda. Sources have revealed that the latest scenario being discussed is for a Pacific Islanders team to take on the Lions - armed with leading Test players from each of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, subject to co-operation from the unions in those countries.

RORY KEANE: When Romania set up in Bordeaux last weekend to face Ireland, they had Fonovai Tangimana and Tevita Manumua in their ranks. Both a pair of Tongan-born backs who had been looking for pastures new and were now wearing the colors of their adopted country. Nuku'alofa, Tonga's capital, and Bucharest's capital, is only about 167,000 kilometers apart, but a Pacific Islander's journey to earn a living is a long one. Tongans will be seen pleading for their trade in any international – and semi-pro – rugby tournament. Although this tiny country in the south Pacific has a population of 106,000 residents, they have always punched above their weight on the biggest stage.

Charles Piutau fulfilled a lifelong ambition by appearing in 17 All Blacks appearances. But, when he represents the Pacific Island nation at his first World Cup on Saturday night, the former Premiership champion will play for his Tongan-born parents Manako and Melenaite. Piutau, 31, is one of the top figures to have benefited from World Rugby's reform in eligibility rules at the tournament here in France. In Nantes, he is now aiming for an upset of world No. 1 Ireland.

NIK SIMON - BIK SIMON – Thibaud Flament's mind was somewhere between business lectures and his next match against Loughborough University's fifth team when his phone rang. The Belgium Under 20s coach was on the phone and their chat went something like this. Coach: 'We've got the European B tournament coming up, you won't be first choice because we've got someone else, but would you like to come and play for us?'