No Fiji Conflict For England's Hughes

LONDON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Nov, 2016 ) - England's Nathan Hughes has insisted he will have no divided loyalties should the back-row make his first Test start against Fiji, the land of his birth, at Twickenham on Saturday.

Hughes is the latest in a long line of players from the Pacific Islands to have left their home nation in search of more lucrative rugby opportunities elsewhere. Qualified for England on a controversial three-year residency rule which many, including World Rugby chairman and Argentina great Agustin Pichot, believe is too short, Hughes summed up his situation with piercing clarity.

"I play rugby to support my family and put shelter over their heads," said Hughes, who made his Test debut off the bench in England's 37-21 win over South Africa at Twickenham last week. "That is the decision I made.

It is how Fijians survive. It is their bread and butter. "I would love for them to have more resources, but that is the way it is. They just have to live on whatever they have got. I don't know what they do with their money.

I just focus on my family. "The response (to my first cap) has been positive, all happy and proud of the decision I have made.

And, no, I won't be singing both anthems. I will only be singing 'God Save the Queen'," added Hughes, who was educated at Kelston Boys High School, where the All Blacks' 2011 World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry was once the headmaster, after teachers at the Auckland school spotted his sporting talent.

Few blame the 25-year-old for trying to make the most financially out of a short career -- he is set to receive a match fee of #22,000 ($27,370) compared to the #60 ($75) per diem expenses of a Fiji player on Saturday.

Nevertheless, there have long been concerns that the 'talent drain' of players from poorer southern hemisphere sides to already well-resourced European countries is damaging efforts to increase the global competitiveness of international rugby union.

Fiji won the inaugural Olympic Sevens gold medal at this year's Rio Games but the likes of Hughes, Australia's Tevita Kuridrani and Henry Speight, and New Zealand's Waisake Naholo have opted to play Test rugby elsewhere. APP/AFP/ff