Sports

Kerevi a loss for Fiji: McKee

June 18, 2015 12:17 am

Vodafone Flying Fijians coach, John McKee says Queensland Reds centre, Samu Kerevi’s call-up to the Wallabies preliminary squad for the Rugby Championship is a big loss for Fiji.

21-year-old Kerevi was born in Viseisei, Vuda before moving to Australia at the age of five and has slowly climbed up the rugby ranks to be named in the Wallabies squad.

McKee, who made an approach to Kerevi but was turned down for a Flying Fijians call-up says Kerevi has been the in-form centre in the Super Rugby season and deserves to be in the Wallabies side.

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“I worked with him (Kerevi) in the Australian Rugby Union Academy program and it’s a pity that he is not available for Fiji. But he has been in great form for Queensland this year and obviously the Wallabies have been keeping a close eye on him.”

Kerevi has been one of the most consistent players in the Super Rugby competition, having made 50 tackle bursts, 39 line-breaks, 24 offloads as well as scoring six tries.

Wallabies coach, Michael Cheika is yet to include the New South Wales Waratahs and Brumbies players in his preliminary squad until after the Super Rugby finals and could also include Fijian stars, Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight and Taqele Naiyaravoro.