Former 7s star winger  Rawaca starts at centre  for French club

Burly Fijian lock Jone Qovu scored a try for League leaders La Rochelle as they continue to impress. They opened up an even larger gap at the top of the table over Clermont thanks to their 38-15 win over defending champions Racing 92.

After winning away last weekend at Toulouse this was a much simpler task for La Rochelle, who never looked in doubt for the result after taking an early lead through tries from Victor Vito and Qovu, plus a Brock James penalty.

Racing did hit back through Gerbrandt Grobler before Elliot Roudil grabbed La Rochelle’s third try, making it 22-8 to the visitors at half-time.

Penalties from James extended the lead to 20 points before Fijian international Leone Nakarawa close the gap, but Roudil’s second try and a Jean Victor Goillot penalty put the result beyond doubt.

La Rochelle also fielded former Vodafone Fijian 7s winger, Savenaca Rawaca, Kini Murimurivalu and Levani Botia.while Racing 92 had veteran centre Albert Vulivuli.

Talebula scores in UBB big win

Vodafone Flying Fijian utility back Metuisela Talebula scored a try for Bordeaux-Begles in their big 46-14 win over Grenbole in Stade Chaban- Delmas in Bordeaux.

First-half tries from Romain Lonca, Louis-Benoit Madaule and Sebastien Taofifenua sent UBB on their way and Cyril Cazeaux, Ole Avei and Talebula confirmed the victory after the break as they climb the table. Grenoble with Fijian winger Edward Sawailau meanwhile could only score one try through second-row Aly Muldowney as they find themselves staring relegation in the face.

Nayacalevu double fail to lift club

Former Vodafone Fijian 7s rover Waisea Nayacalevu scored two tries for Stade Francaise but it was not enough as they went down 35-33 to Lyon.

The win was Lyon’s eighth in the season.

They were on the back foot from the outset however when Sekou Macalou scored in the first minute for the visitors and trailed 17-10 at the break as Nayacalevu’s crossing cancelled out Lyon’s penalty try.

But after the interval a further penalty try and scores from Carl Fearns and Delon Armitage to another Nayacalevu effort meant that Lyon would narrowly come out on top, sending Stade to an eleventh league loss.

Toulon wallop Bayonne

Toulon put Bayonne to the sword at Stade Mayol yesterday as they ran up a massive 82-14 score against the league’s bottom side. Veteran Fijian centre Gabirieli Lovobalavu scored one of Bayonne’s two tries.

Mike Ford’s outfit led 49-7 at the interval thanks to seven tries, which came from Liam Gill, Bryan Habana (2), Juan Smith, Axel Muler, a penalty try and Mathieu Bastareaud. Fly-half Pierre Bernard converted all of those.

The procession continued after the break as Toulon hit 70 points just after the hour mark, with back-row trio Smith, Gill and Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe all crossing. The hosts were in no mood to let up with the scoring.

Levan Chilachava and Muler added further tries to the tally late on but it would be Bayonne who had the final say, through Pablo Huete.

Fijian 4 star in Brive upset win

Brive with Fijian 4- Sevanaia Galala, Benito Masilevu, Sisa Koyamaibole and substitute Dominiko Waqaniburotu scored an upset 21-19 win over Toulouse.

The league’s top points scorer Gaëtan Germain kicked seven penalties to drive Brive to victory past Toulouse who fielded Semi Kunatani on the wing.

Toulouse’s disappointing campaign continued as the visitors finished with 14 men following a red card for former England international Toby Flood.

Despite that it was Toulouse who went into the break ahead 19-12, having scored the only try of the contest through winger Arthur Bonneval. But Germain’s boot proved to be the different, as the full-back finished with 21 points to see Brive past the post.

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