Hughes Heads Home as Ex-England Man Named in Fiji's Nations Championship Squad

Nathan Hughes is set to complete a remarkable international circle. The former England back-rower has been named in Fiji's 35-man squad for the Nations Championship, putting the 35-year-old in line for a Test debut for the country of his birth more than seven years after his last England cap. Hughes won 22 caps for England between 2016 and 2019, the last of them in the dramatic 38-38 draw with Scotland in the 2019 Six Nations. Now at Racing 92 in France's Top 14, where he has scored twice in his opening two appearances this season, he is one of four uncapped players drafted in by Fiji head coach Jake White, alongside Peniami Narisia, Marika Parker and Setareki Bituniyata. Fiji arrive in November's block on the back of a 34-28 win over Japan last weekend, and face France, Ireland and Italy as they look to climb off the bottom of the Southern Hemisphere pool. Hughes, who can operate at number eight, flanker or lock, brings a wealth of top-level experience to a side building toward the 2027 World Cup, where they have been drawn alongside Argentina, Spain and Canada in Pool C.