Therefore, no one could begrudge him his emigration to Italy, the country of his birth, his mother and the country for which he has a passport. For most players in the Premiership, the England Test squad may be the holy grail, but being included in the bubbling Italian rugby project below senior international level is not a bad investment. Raina’s home base for next season, Benetton, currently sit second in the United Rugby Championship and have lost less than any team in the league this season (including leaders Leinster). Italy’s under-20s lost by one point to their Irish opponents in Cork earlier this month, but they are showing concrete signs of victory in a game the Azzurri should have won.
At 23 years old, Raina is likely to be active in the next few years. It’s clear that Italy’s head coach Gonzalo Quesada is also a fan. This week, just days after announcing his move to Benetton, Lina was named in Italy’s first-team squad to face France in Lille in the third round of the Six Nations. Raina’s qualities may have been downplayed by the English side, but there is no doubt that the winger’s decision-making ability could help a struggling Italian team. And a stay at Benetton and perhaps a stint on his international debut could allow him to rediscover excellence in 2021.
On the surface, Raina’s departure is a blow to English rugby, and it may appear as if another dual-eligible player has slipped through the net. In another world, he might have been selected for the England A squad announced on Thursday. It is true that hitting is one interpretation, but that is too simplistic. In reality, Wing’s desire to taste the dolce vita is a good move for everyone involved as well. It may be tears of nostalgia for Harlequins fans, but Tsubasa should depart with everyone’s blessings.