Josua Tuisova (Fiji)
Fiji centre Josua Tuisova is the fifth and final name on our short-list, with the centre well known in France long before the Paris Olympic Games. Tuisova has been a leading name within the Top 14 back-lines since 2013, as the Fijian has enjoyed club spells with Toulon, Lyon and most recently with Racing 92. This latest stint in the French capital club saw him score two tries in five matches, as he spent the majority of his season side-lined with a knee injury.
Tuisova picked up the injury in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final, as the Flying Fijians took on England last October. The 30-year-old’s longest stint with any given club was by far his six season tenure in Toulon, that stretched from 2013 through to 2019. As fleet-footed as a Fijian ever comes, Tuisova often embarrasses his opposition, and leaves them looking the wrong way or scrambling up off the deck. When the hot-stepping centre-come-wing is not skipping passed tacklers, he is equally adept to planting a strong fend and musclING his way over his opponent.
There are plenty of highlight reels showcasing Tuisova at his very best, and this incoming Fiji team looks like a real threat to retain their gold medals from Tokyo. Tuisova is joined by the likes of Bristol Bears loose forward Viliame Mata and Fijian Drua wing Samisoni Nasagavesi in the Fiji Sevens squad, who are without a doubt amongst the favourites to take home the gold medals from France.
In all Olympic events across every sport, Fiji have only ever claimed a Gold medal in Rugby Sevens. The honour was first achieved in Rio 2016, before the title was retained in Tokyo five years later. The Fijian Women also claimed the nation’s only bronze medal, from the Women’s Rugby Sevens event in Tokyo.