News about Malakai Fekitoa

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?'