Kiwi-born and Fiji-raised France rugby centre Virimi Vakatawa has revealed that he has a heart condition that has forced him to retire from the game.

The Naluwai, Naitasiri man made the announcement during the Paris rugby club Racing 92’s media conference last night attended by France coach Fabien Galthié, who choked back tears while giving a tribute.

Vakatawa, 30, said: “Rugby is my passion. The hardest moment of all of this was yesterday in front of my teammates.

• READ MORE: Other reports about Virimi Vakatawa
• Other French rugby reports

“It was very difficult to tell all those with whom I’d spent time both on and off the field.”

The 31 test international arrived in France in 2010 and represented both Racing 92 and the France 7s team as well as playing for France in the 2019 World Cup in Tokyo. He was expected to play a big role in the French team for the Paris World Cup next year.

Racing 92’s club doctor Dr Sylvain Blanchard said that a “cardiological anomaly” had been found in 2019 “just before the Rugby World Cup in Japan”.

It had been monitored closely by the Parisian club’s medical team but its “pathology had evolved” since.

Health in jeopardy
The cardiac problem jeopardised the health of Vakatawa and medical officials have banned him from playing in France.

Dr Blanchard said the condition was first diagnosed before Tokyo in 2019, but it was decided at the time that Vakatawa could continue playing under extra surveillance.

However, the medical experts now say his condition is too risky.

“It is a pathology that is likely to put him at risk in intense sports activities,” Dr Blanchard said. “And, obviously, professional rugby is part of those activities.”

The 30-year-old Vakatawa was born in Rangiora, New Zealand, raised in Fiji — the country of his heritage — and arrived in France at 17.

He was out injured while France won the Six Nations Grand Slam this year but was back as the starting centre in both test wins in Japan in July.

“It’s tough to leave this family, but I never had regrets,” Vakatawa said.

Rodney Duthie is Fiji Times sports editor. Republished with permission.

By Paul Eddison in Caen, France

The call-up of Sevens star Virimi Vakatawa to France’s Six Nations squad was a calculated gamble by new coach Guy Novès serving as both his most intriguing decision and proof of a major problem in French rugby.

At 23 years of age there is no question that the Fijian-born flyer is the star attraction in the French Sevens outfit, and has established himself as the most prolific offloader on the circuit since switching from XVs in 2014.

A rare combination of pace and power, Vakatawa’s step and fend has become one of the most fearsome sights in the shorter format of the game and if he can transfer that threat into XVs, there is no question he will become France’s most dangerous weapon out wide.

While his Sevens exploits were enough to convince Novès to give him a shot, there will be question marks over how ready he will be to play XVs, having made his last appearance for former club Racing 92 back in December 2013.

He does have 44 games in that format under his belt with the Parisian side after being enticed over by Sireli Bobo. Back when he arrived as a 17-year-old he weighed just 87kg, a huge contrast to his current powerful build.

Still, his background should at least ensure he acclimatises quicker than the likes of Semi Kunatani and Samisoni Viriviri, Sevens superstars who have made negligible impact after moving to the Top 14.

But the issue of Vakatawa’s defence in XVs, as well as the difference in fitness required between the extreme athleticism of sevens and the longer grind of the 80-minute game, ensure this is far from a guaranteed success.

Worthy risk
Novès felt the risk was worth taking though, and as he did when talking about a number of other uncapped players, he explained that there was no time to waste.

Going forward Vakatawa could well be a fixture in the French squad, particularly after the Rio Olympics when he will return to XVs full-time, with Racing and Toulon battling for his signature.

Just over three years on from turning down a call-up by Fiji, it would appear that Vakatawa’s gamble is starting to pay off.

Of course when it was revealed that he had said no to Fiji, it came at the same time as one of his compatriots also playing in France, and the example of Noa Nakaitaci should serve as a warning to Vakatawa.

One year his senior, Nakaitaci fully deserved his call-up by Philippe Saint-André, and started well, despite a hairy moment at Twickenham back in March.

But as France’s World Cup campaign went south, so did Nakaitaci’s reputation and confidence, and the latter still appears to be shattered as he missed out on Six Nations selection.

Add in talk of Josua Tuisova, Toulon’s budding flyer who isn’t currently eligible, and France’s wing stocks could be packed with Fijians going forward.

Little surprise
That comes as little surprise with the Top 14 and Pro D2 both dominated by Fijians on the wing, in a position where les Bleus are desperately short of options. Only Castres and coincidentally Racing don’t have a Fijian back three player, although even they have Sitiveni Sivivatu and Joe Rokocoko respectively.

Injuries don’t help of course. Yoann Huget gets his fair share of stick in France, but is undoubtedly their best option when fit. At the moment he is still recovering from the ACL tear suffered in the World Cup opener against Italy.

Similarly Rémy Grosso likely would have made it but for a long-term injury, while Teddy Thomas, so impressive when he first broke through, has virtually disappeared from contention due to a succession of injuries. He last played a game in May and as it stands there is little indication of when he will return.

With those three absent, the cupboard is remarkably bare. Novès has gone with a collection of full-backs turned wingers in Benjamin Fall, Hugo Bonneval and Maxime Médard in the squad.

All are fine players in their own right, but the latter two at least prefer the 15 jersey. The other possibility is the return of Wesley Fofana to the wing, a much-derided move by Saint-André but conceivable given the paucity of options.

In terms of those challenging them, you have the pocket-sized duo Marc Andreu and Marvin O’Connor, both ignored and surely too small for Test rugby when faced with the likes of Julian Savea and George North.

There are other players getting game time out wide, but far too few and even fewer are contenders for France down the line.

Current vein
Last weekend saw the arrival on the scene of Louis Dupichot at Racing, and if he continues in his current vein he may yet make the squad for the June tour to Argentina.

Equally La Rochelle’s Gabriel Lacroix could join club colleagues Kevin Gourdon and Uini Atonio sooner rather than later, but the promising Arthur Bonneval has not yet broken through fully at Toulouse.

The lack of talent coming through is a real concern. While Vakatawa and co might provide a short-term solution, the FFR should be worried that they are currently the only option.

Paul Eddison is a freelance sports journalist who writes for Planet Rugby. He is now based in Caen, France.

Virimi Vakatawa racing to his six tries in the 2015 Wellington Sevens tournament. Video: Fox on YouTube

Report from Pacific Media Watch in Paris

France head rugby union coach Guy Novès has sprung a surprise by naming Fiji-born France Sevens wing Virimi Vakatawa in his Six Nations squad that includes eight uncapped players.

After two training camps the new France boss has settled on a squad of 31 to finalise his preparations ahead of their first game against Italy on February 6.

Two big names missing from the final list are fly-half François Trinh-Duc and flanker Bernard le Roux. Trinh-Duc is still recovering from a shinbone injury, has been provisionally left out of the squad and replaced by Toulouse’s Jean-Marc Doussain. Stade Français flank Antoine Burban replaces South African-born Le Roux, who is absent for personal reasons.

There is no place,as expected, for Mathieu Bastareaud.

Toulon hooker Guilhem Guirado will captain the group.

Vakatawa has impressed for France Sevens in the two Seves World Series events so far this season in Dubai and Cape Town. Previously contracted by Racing 92, the 23-year-old qualified to play for France in 2013.

“We tried to involve young players on every line. We tried to build a team which will allow us to work in continuity, with an eye to the next four years,” explained Novés.

“We had a discussion with François (Trinh-Duc). He knew that his presence depended on his performances on the pitch. We know that Francois has resumed training very seriously,” he added.

Among online comments on the Planet Rugby website, Gareth Cotter described Vakatawa as being “unstoppable for the French Sevens team. Strong and skilful”.

France squad for the Six Nations:
Forwards: Eddy Ben Arous, Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado (c), Camille Chat, Rabah Slimani, Uini Atonio, Yoann Maestri, Paul Jedrasiak, Sébastian Vahaamahina, Alexandre Flanquart, Wenceslas Lauret, Yacouba Camara, Kevin Gourdon, Louis Picamoles, Antoine Burban, Damien Chouly.

Backs: Sébastian Bézy, Morgan Parra, Maxime Machenaud, Jean-Marc Doussain, Jules Plisson, Alexandre Dumoulin, Wesley Fofana, Gaël Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Rémi Lamerat, Hugo Bonneval, Maxime Médard, Benjamin Fall, Scott Spedding, Virimi Vakatawa.

Earlier story

By Semi Turaga

French media reports that Virimi Vakatawa has accepted the offer to play for France in the Six Nations as he has not been included in the French 7s teams training squad for the Wellington 7s in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, two Les Bleus stars have been included to play for France at the Wellington and Sydney Sevens.

They are Fulgence Ouedraogo and Romain Martial.

France 7s squad: AICARDI Jérémy, BARRY Steeve, BOUHRAOUA Terry, CANDELON Julien, CLER Damien, GRACBLING Alexandre, LAKAFIA Pierre Gilles, LAUGEL Jonathan, MARTIAL Romain, MAZOUE Jean‑Baptiste, OUEDRAOGO Fulgence, PAREZ Stephen, VALLEAU Sacha.

Virimi Vakatawa chosen