Samu Kerevi

Fiji born departing Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi has hit back at reports he is planning a switch to Fiji for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Kerevi has hinted the prospects of donning the white Fiji jersey in the near during the Legend Sportswear Luncheon at the Sheraton Fiji Resort over the weekend.

The 26-year-old will play in Japan for the next 3 years but under the Australian Rugby Union laws, any former Wallabies player that joins an overseas club, can only be eligible to play again for Australia if they have a minimum 60 Test caps or minimum 7 seasons at Super rugby level.

Kerevi has played just 33 Tests and is not eligible to be picked for the Wallabies from overseas.

Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle has spoken about the need to review this law which is known as the “Giteau Law”.

Kerevi took to Instagram this morning to dispel the storm created by his comments.

He said he was disappointed to be taken out of context, quoted for things he didn’t.

Kerevi added he loved representing Fiji in his younger days and is proud of his Fijian heritage but also extremely proud and honored to be a Wallaby and all that Australia has done for him and his family.

Alongside the statement, Kerevi posted a video featuring Denzel Washington criticizing the “misinformation” distributed by the media.

Kerevi has previously kept the door open for a return to Australia once his Japan deal wraps up, ahead of the 2022 Super Rugby season.

Players ordinarily are unable to play for a Test nation after they have represented another but a number in recent years have been repatriated by playing Sevens and being granted an exemption from World Rugby.

[Samu Kerevi’s Instagram story post. Photo: Instagram]