Fiji Keen On England Junior Halfback

Fiji are trying to convince promising Newcastle Falcons scrumhalf, Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, to opt-out of the England system and boost their halfback options heading into the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

The Fijian-born scrumhalf moved to North Yorkshire on a scholarship from Suva to Terrington Hall Prep School designed to give opportunities overseas to talented players and was picked up by Falcons following a junior career with Malton & Norton RFC which produced Wales prop Tomas Francis and Exeter Chiefs lock Will Witty, who started his professional career with the Newcastle club.

Nordli-Kelemeti, 22, from Rotuma, was promoted to the Falcons’ senior academy in 2018 having represented England Under-18s and England sevens in the Junior Commonwealth Games in 2017.

Nordli-Kelemeti spent last season on loan to Championship club Jersey before returning to Kingston Park and has been given a run of games due to a scrumhalf injury crisis affecting South African Louis Schreuder, who will join Bath next season, veteran Micky Young and Sam Stuart.

Dean Richards, the Falcons rugby director, revealed Fiji had made contact about his young scrumhalf who has formed an effective halfback combination during the injury crisis with Will Haydon-Wood, the former Sedbergh School outside half who was in the same first XV as Scotland centre Cameron Redpath.

Richards told RugbyPass: “Cam has started far more games than he thought he would have this season and has improved the exposure he has received in that period of time. As a result, he is a far more confident and different player from the start of the season.

Fiji have been communicating with us about Cam and the big question is if he wants to play for Fiji or gets the chance to play for an England side because he has English Qualified Player (EPQ) status.

“He has great skills set and has worked incredibly hard on his scrumhalf position skills and has been given the opportunity of late and it is amazing how quickly players develop.”

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj