Virimi Vakatawa, a former player for the French national rugby team with 32 appearances, has been banned from playing rugby in France due to a heart anomaly. However, he has now been called up to play for the Fijian national team.
At 34 years old, Vakatawa had played 32 matches for France between 2015 and 2022 before being prohibited from playing in France due to a progressive heart anomaly. After a year-long break, he resumed his career in England with Bristol.
Following an independent examination by a group of expert sports cardiologists, Vakatawa was cleared to play again as announced by his English club in September 2023. He is currently engaged with the Fijian Drua, a team in the Super Rugby championship.
Vakatawa is eligible to switch his sporting nationality to Fiji under a rule adopted in November 2021, which requires a player not to have represented their original national team for 36 months and to have a connection to the country they wish to represent.
With his last appearance for France being over three years ago and having Fijian parents, Vakatawa meets the criteria set by World Rugby to change his national representation.
The Fijian national team will finalize their squad of 32 players two weeks before their first match in the Nations Championship on July 4 in Cardiff against Wales. They will then face England on July 11 in Liverpool and Scotland on July 18 in Edinburgh.
