© 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. So far, there has been no word from head coach Vern Cotter on the delay of the naming of the Flying Fijians squad. The players have been monitored regularly by the Fiji Rugby Union’s High Performance Unit. Also ruled out of the Autumn Nations Cup due to injury is Edinburgh’s No.8 Viliame Mata. This follows the official announcement on French Top 14 club Castre’s website last night stating Kunatani did not meet the requirements of the regulatory medical examination. The Fiji Rugby Union has criticised two of its players who have been arrested for failing to self-isolate after returning to Fiji from overseas, including Semi Kunatani of Harlequins. Sign up to our mailing list for a weekly digest from the wide world of rugby. Flying Fijians flanker and Olympian Semi Kunatani is in doubt for the Autumn Nations Cup in November. He signed up with Rugby United New York early this season but had to return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The local-based players are expected to joined by Melbourne Rebels halfback Frank Lomani. Cotter calls in 7 of his Flying Fijians to bolster Barbarians squad for England... Rennie threatens selection changes after watching Wallabies miss 40 tackles in Bledisloe II defeat, Eddie Jones names 12 uncapped players in experimental looking England squad, Authorities make Cheika wait to join Pumas in quarantine. Olympian Semi Kunatani is now without a club. Article continues after advertisement He along with Glasgow Warriors Leone Nakarawa are in danger of missing out due to lack of game time. It is understood that the October 25 camp is highly likely to be moved away from France, due to the rapid increase in the number of people being tested positive to COVID-19. Problems for Fiji camp as Sevens star dumped by French club, Watch The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup LIVE, Revealed: Stevens saved 'drowning' Barritt, Bledisloe II: New Zealand player ratings vs Australia, Bledisloe II: Australia player ratings vs New Zealand. Danny Wilson, the Glasgow coach, said: “We now have him back in the country but he has to go through an isolation period which really, if we are being honest, gets him fit and healthy to go into the Fiji camp.”. Rewa Accomplishes Mission, Secures Place In Skipper Cup, Shine A Light: Death Highway Spells Horror. RugbyPass is the premier destination for rugby fans across the globe, with the best news, analysis, shows, highlights, podcasts, documentaries, live match & player stats, live blog feeds, and in some territories live streaming of the world's greatest rugby tournaments all in HD. Kunatani was yesterday dumped by his French Top 14 club Castres for failing his medical test. Kunatani and one other unnamed player arrested, Both players had returned to Fiji via Singapore. © 2020 Sun (Fiji) News Pte Ltd. All Rights reserved. Flying Fijians assistant coach Daryl Gibson told Rugby Pass, that he is looking forward to work with players like Semi Radradra, Josua Tuisova, Peceli Yato and Mata. “Vern has been very open to ideas around playing the game and playing it in a uniquely Fijian way and with an identity that you can see,” he said. “It is getting out of control here,” a source from Europe said. Mon 6 Apr 2020 04.55 EDT Fiji Rugby will take appropriate disciplinary actions against the professional rugby players, including reporting this highly irresponsible behaviour to their clubs and World Rugby.”. The Fiji Rugby Union has criticised two of its players who have been arrested for failing to self-isolate after returning to Fiji from overseas, including Semi Kunatani of Harlequins. Available for everyone, funded by readers. The French Top 14 outfit issued a statement saying: “Castres Olympique regret to announce that Semi Kunatani did not meet the requirements of the regulatory medical examination and as provided for in the regulations of the National Rugby League. Added to the logistical problems of ensuring new head coach Vern Cotter can meet up with his players for the first time to prepare for the tournament, there is now doubt over the availability of Olympic Sevens gold medallist Semi Kunatani after he was dropped by new club Castres. They were arrested for failing to observe a 14-day quarantine designed the prevent the spread of Covid-19. Tawake is playing for Naitasiri in the Skipper Cup competition. All rights reserved. He can therefore not join the club,” stated the club through a press release. Flying Fijians flanker and Olympian Semi Kunatani is in doubt for the Autumn Nations Cup in November. Semi Kunatani has played 13 Tests for Fiji Harlequins loose forward Semi Kunatani is to return to France to join Top 14 side Castres after two years at The Stoop. Last modified on Wed 1 Jul 2020 12.51 EDT. The 24-year-old Tawake played for Manawatu Turbos in the Mitre 10 competition last year. The OC regrets this situation and wishes Semi Kunatani the best.”. Both players returned to Fiji via Singapore. Head coach Cotter has been based in New Zealand due to the pandemic since taking over from John McKee and has already lost Edinburgh No8 Viliame Mata, who is out for six to eight weeks with an ankle injury, while Fiji and Stade Francais prop Luke Tagi was sent off against Bayonne. “Castres Olympique regret to announce that Semi Kunatani did not meet the requirements of the regulatory medical examination and as provided for in the regulations of the National Rugby League. “He can therefore not join the club. The 29-year-old previously spent three years in the French Top 14 with Toulouse before moving to England and was expected to be named in the Fiji squad for the training camp later this month in France. The French Top 14 outfit issued a statement saying: “Castres Olympique regret to announce that Semi Kunatani did not meet the requirements of the regulatory medical examination and as provided for in the regulations of the National Rugby League. “We strongly condemn the behaviour of these two players and their disregard for lawful instructions to self-isolate themselves,” said John O’Connor, chief executive of Fiji rugby. France based- forward and Olympian Semi Kunatani joined the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team in Hong Kong on Saturday. Kunatani was yesterday dumped by his French Top 14 club Castres for failing his medical test. Key lock forward Leone Nakarawa only returned to Glasgow Warriors at the end of last month after an extended period in Fiji and is now being put through a specific training programme to get him fit for the eight nations tournament. He made his debut for the Flying Fijians in the 34-31 win over the Barbarians in Twickenham. Therefore, the club had to let him go. “He can therefore not join the club. “Such irresponsible behaviour is totally unacceptable and we support the actions of the police in arresting these two players and any further action taken against them. Media in Fiji named one of the players as the back-rower Kunatani, who was a member of the Fiji sevens team that won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Lomani was released from Government quarrantine in Nadi on Thursday after going through all the safety procedures. Fiji has reported 12 cases. The Fiji prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, highlighted the case of the players during his regular news briefing on Sunday. The former national 7s forward flew out of the country three weeks ago to join his club. The other player has not yet been named. It is believed they led by Suva second five-eighth Serupepeli Vularika, rookie Naitasiri first five-eighth Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Tailevu halfback Simione Kuruvoli, Papua New Guinea-born Naitasiri lock Chris Minibi, Manueli Ratuniyarawa, Timoci Sauvoli and tighthead prop Samu Tawake. Reports from Fiji suggest an alternative venue for the camp – which will be vital for the squad’s tournament preparations – is now being considered. Olympian Semi Kunatani is now without a club. “We are not going to turn Fiji into a ten-man team that kicks the leather off the ball and scrums and lineouts teams. window.scriptsToInit.push('BrightCoveEmbeddedScrollVideo.init("6195238945001");'); Kunatani had joined fellow countrymen Vilimoni Botitu and Osea Waqa at Castres, having signed from Harlequins in June. “There is a number of players back in the islands which we’ll be bringing that you haven’t seen and part of our brief is to really nurture that talent and start really bringing it through.”. Fiji’s preparations for taking part in the eight-team Autumn Nations tournament in Europe next month have hit serious problems with doubts over their planned training camp in France due to the country’s ongoing battle to contain COVID-19. Flying Fijians flanker and Fiji 7s Olympic gold medalist Semi Kunatani is now without a club. Fiji have been placed in a pool with France, Scotland and Italy for the Autumn Nations tournament. Meanwhile, apart from the New Zealand-based players, it is likely a number of upcoming local-based players are earmarked for the tour.