Fiji rugby selectors have summoned flanker Akapusi Qera from Gloucester ahead of their international against England at Twickenham on Saturday, the English Premiership club announced Monday.
Qera has been in fine form for the Cherry and Whites lately and was named man-of-the-match in the recent win over Leicester.
The 28-year-old back-row forward, capped 26 times by his country, featured in the Fiji side that knocked Wales out of the 2007 World Cup in France and also appeared in last year’s edition in New Zealand.
He had initially committed himself to Gloucester for the duration of the November/December international window.
But with the Fiji squad hit by injuries leading into a tour that sees them play Gloucester at Kingsholm a week on Tuesday, the Cherry and Whites have accepted a formal request to release Qera.
“We received a request on Monday morning from the Fijian management requesting Akapusi’s services as they have been hit by withdrawals in their build-up,” said Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Davies.
“Under the current IRB (International Rugby Board) regulations in these circumstances, we can’t actually prevent a player’s release and we’ll obviously miss him because he’s been in great form for us.
“However, we are of the understanding that this is just for the one match. So, we look forward to him returning to the club very shortly and wish him well in the meantime.”