Former Lautoka Centre, Noa Nakaitaci has been named in the French rugby team’s 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup next month.
Nakaitaci is the first Fijian that will be part of a French rugby team to a World Cup.
He made his debut for France in the six nations this year.
France coach Philippe Saint‑Andre says Nakaitaci has become an undisputed first‑choice at Clermont and progressed enormously this season with impressive club form.
Nakaitaci represented Lautoka in 2008 and captained the national Under 19 side in 2009.
He attended Tilak High School and RKS before moving to France in 2009 to pursue his rugby dream.
Nakaitaci is originally from Naluwai in Naitasiri.
France is pooled with Ireland, Italy, Canada and Romania.
Forwards: Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Eddy Ben Arous (Racing Metro), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Francais), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing Metro), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Francais), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Bernard Le Roux (Racing Metro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse).
Backs: Rory Kockott (Castres), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Sebastien Tillous‑Borde (Toulon), Frederic Michalak (Toulon), Remi Tales (Racing Metro), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Alexandre Dumoulin (Racing Metro), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Brice Dulin (Racing Metro), Sofiane Guitoune (Bordeaux‑Begles), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont), Scott Spedding (Clermont).
