Flying Fijians rugby captain in the Pacific Nations Cup Dominiko Waqaniburotu is out of next month’s Northern Hemisphere tour after sustaining a knee injury playing for Waikato.

Fiji Rugby Union High Performance manager Talemo Waqa has confirmed that Waqaniburotu will undergo knee surgery next week and will be replaced by Sekonaia Kalou who also played for Fiji in the PNC.

Also out of the tour is utility back Kameli Ratuvou who has taken up studies and was recently accepted into a university in England.

Replacing Ratuvou in the squad, is 25-year-old Albert Vulivuli who plays for Racing Metro in France’s Top 14 competition.

Vulivuli is the younger brother of former Fiji and Labasa soccer rep Thomas Vulivuli and was also a Fiji Schoolboy trialist in 2003 before winning a scholarship to attend Hamilton Boys High School in Waikato in 2004.

In 2009, Vulivuli made the move to France and is currently playing for Racing Metro which is on second spot at the top of the Top 14 standings.

Fiji will play against France in their opening game on the Europe tour on the 14th of next month.


Story By: Dreu Vukailagi