23 Oct 2014

Fijian player named in England rugby squad

11:37 am on 23 October 2014

England have named Fiji-born winger Semesa Rokoduguni in their rugby squad for November's internationals.

Rokoduguni, an Afghanistan war veteran who left the village of Naselai at just 19 to enlist in the British Army, only started playing professionally two years ago.

The England coach Stuart Lancaster says while the 27-year-old is still a raw talent, he's one of the most exciting wingers English rugby has seen in some time.

"The balance we're looking for in our backline. We need to have people in there who have power and physicality and who can break tackles by running through people or running round them and he seems to do that pretty well."

England play New Zealand on November 8th ahead of matches against South Africa, Samoa and Australia. England are also scheduled to meet Fiji in the opening fixture of next year's World Cup at Twickenham.

Bath's Fijian winger Semesa Rokoduguni.

Bath's Fijian winger Semesa Rokoduguni. Photo: PHOTOSPORT