Three players from Ba have been included in the Fijian Latui, who play two matches in Ireland this month. Lock forward Isaia Lotawa from Yakete was named in the original squad alongside former Rarawai FSC and Ba Methodist flanker Kaliova Bulai, 20, who moved last year to Soyaux Angouleme in France.

Top prop forward Allen Osborne was later drafted in and flew out this week.

The Fijian Latui face a Munster Selection in Cork tonight and then Ireland A next Friday which counts as a capped match.

“It’s a great honour for Ba to have three players represent the Fijian Latui in these historic matches,” BRU Secretary Gaby Kautoga said. “Ba has a good history of developing national reps, but in the past many of them have had to move to bigger unions to get noticed.”

“We thank the Fiji Rugby Union for this excellent initiative, and we hope it is just the first step of a successful development pathway for the top emerging players in Fiji.”

FRU CEO Koli Sewabu further explained the importance of the Latui.

“This is much more than just putting another Fijian rugby team on the field,” Sewabu said, “whether that’s in Europe, the UK or other parts of the world. It’s about giving our players, coaches and officials more opportunities, building strong relationships overseas and making sure Fiji Rugby is in a better position to benefit from opportunities in the international game.”