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Clermont's newest flying Fijian, 21-year-old Raka, ripped Toulouse apart

The Top 14 side’s links to the Nadroga Rugby Union are paying off.

CLERMONT’S OFFICIAL LINK with the Nadroga Rugby Union in Fiji continues to pay dividends with the emergence of 21-year-old wing Alivereti Raka.

The lightning-quick Raka, who can also play centre, is the latest product of Clermont’s partnership with Nadroga, with brilliant back row Peceli Yato and wing Uwa Tuwalo [now with Oyonnax] both having come from the same Fijian union.

TOP 14 - Officiel / YouTube

Raka originally moved to Clermont-Ferrand to join ASM’s academy in 2014, but has had to wait until the current season for first-team opportunities.

With five tries in his first five Top 14 starts, including a stunning brace against Toulouse yesterday in a 32-23 win for ASM, Raka has signalled his deep potential.

While the defence for both of his scores against former European giants Toulouse was poor, the pace, power and evasion skills of Raka underlined that he will be a major threat for years to come.

TOP 14 - Officiel / YouTube

Clermont formerly had Nadroga man Napolioni Nalaga on the wing, but the 29-year-old joined Lyon last year after a move to Toulon fell through.

Number eight Yato, who played for Fiji at the World Cup, has been excellent for Clermont since moving from Nadroga.

The partnership sees ASM send coaches and officials to Fiji to help with the structures and development in Nadroga, but it’s clear to see what the French club is gaining from the link.

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    Mute Jack Murphy
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    Sep 21st 2014, 2:03 PM

    They wouldn’t have given him the time like Arsenal have given him… He would have been sold off for 10 million two years ago.

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    Sep 21st 2014, 2:20 PM

    More dissapointed over loosing pogba . Anyone else is just adding salt to the wounds

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    Sep 21st 2014, 1:27 PM

    Good player but overrated IMO.

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    Mute Sean Barber
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    Sep 21st 2014, 1:32 PM

    United can’t attract or hold onto any young players, they’ve become a club that only buys players like City and Chelsea.

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    Mute Barry Ryan
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    Sep 21st 2014, 1:53 PM

    That’s ludicrous. They have more homegrown players in their 1st team squad then chelsea, city, Liverpool or arsenal and you can fact check that. Blackett is playing every game and he came through the academy. We buy a few world class players and the Internet explodes. Take off the blinkers.

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    Sep 21st 2014, 1:54 PM

    I have never heard of players called City or Chelsea…

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    Mute thetruth
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    Sep 21st 2014, 2:12 PM

    Sean Ozil, welbeck and sanchez. Your club buys players too, now pipe down

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    Sep 21st 2014, 1:52 PM
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    Sep 21st 2014, 1:53 PM

    Total cap Sean and u know that

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