Taqele Naiyaravoro
The Waratahs are likely to be without in-form winger Taqele Naiyaravoro for their Super Rugby crunch match against the Hurricanes in New Zealand, due to a visa issue.
Fijian Naiyaravoro was also omitted from the team for the match against the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin last month and is unable to leave Australia for the time being.
“Taqele’s visa application is an ongoing process and as such he is not able to travel overseas at this point in time,” a spokeswoman for the Waratahs said on Tuesday.
The Waratahs declined to comment on whether the explosive 23-year-old, who leads the team with 3 tries, would be available for subsequent games in South Africa later in the year which could prove season-defining.
The Waratahs play the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg on 30 May before taking on the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in the penultimate round of the season.
Australia’s immigration authority declined to comment on the Fijian’s case.
Naiyaravoro’s omission would be a big blow for Michael Cheika’s side who are currently 10th in the competition with a precarious 4 / 3 record as they prepare to take on the undefeated Hurricanes.
The bulky, 120-kg winger played schoolboy rugby in Fiji but was recruited by Wests Tigers in Australia’s National Rugby League in 2012 before switching back to union last year to join the Waratahs.
His spot in Saturday’s squad is likely to be taken by Wallabies winger Peter Betham.
SuperSport