After abandoning the NRL at the end of the 2017 season, Semi Radradra went to France to play in the French Top 14 league.
He has been at it for the past month, after bidding farewell, or should we say adieu, to the Parramatta Eels.
He seems to be making an impact with his Toulon club. Toulon has made a decent showing thus far. After eight games, they are in the top four, behind La Rochelle, Montpellier and Lyon. Toulon has played eight games, winning five and losing three. One slightly disturbing aspect of that record is that they have scored 22 tries, but given up 20.
In their most recent action, Toulon suffered a narrow loss to Agen by the score of 26 – 24. That was something of a shocker, as it is the only game Agen has won to this point in the season.
Radradra seems to have established himself on Toulon’s back row and is playing in Toulon alongside fellow Fiji countryman Josh Tuisova. The pair is joined in the back three by Chris Ashton, who has played winger for England.
Radradra has been a versatile performer. He played outside centre last week, and then moved over to wing, where he set up Ashton for two tries.
It does not seem as though the Fijian will join his country for any of Fiji’s Tests at the end of the year, although national coach John McKee has been following Radradra’s French exploits closely.
McKee told the Fijian Sun, “Semi Radradra has been in very good form since arriving at Toulon. I will be making contact with him during the tour to discuss our plans going forward.”
Radradra is in France on a one-year deal, but he has an option for a second year. He played for the Kangaroos in rugby league, but since he played for Fiji in rugby sevens six years ago, he cannot play for the Wallabies in international competition.
