Fiji’s Yato scores crazy hat-trick on return after missing all of 2022
Fiji and ASM Clermont Auvergne flanker Peceli Yato might have actually made his return to action last week against Lyon after over a year out with a knee injury, but he made his first start against Castres in the most recent round of Top 14 rugby, and it was quite a return.
The 30-year-old has been out since December 2021, but played 80 minutes at the Stade Marcel Michelin on Saturday, bagging a hat-trick in the process. It was a hat-trick that just got better and better as well. The first try was from a driving maul, the second was from a tap from five metres out, and the third was a sprint into the corner. The trio was also a pretty good demonstration that his strength and speed is just as good as it was despite spending so long on the sidelines with injury.
This all came in a 41-26 win for Clermont, leaving them in tenth place in the Top 14, although they play the three teams ahead of them in the league, Bordeaux Begles, Toulon and Montpellier, over their next three fixtures, meaning the league table could look very different for them come March.
Take a look at Yato’s hat-trick:
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ASM Clermont Auvergne XV
1 E. FALGOUX
2 Y. BEHEREGARAY
3 C. OJOVAN
4 T. LANEN
5 P. JEDRASIAK
6 A. ITURRIA
7 P. YATO
8 F. LEE
9 S. BÉZY
10 J. PLISSON
11 A. RAKA
12 I. SIMONE
13 G. MOALA
14 C. TIBERGHIEN
15 A. NEWSOME
Replacements
16 B. BOUDOU
17 G. BERIA
18 M. AMATOSERO
19 L. DESSAIGNE
20 B. JAUNEAU
21 A. BELLEAU
22 K. TIXERONT
23 D. KUBRIASHVILI
Castres XV
1 Q. WALCKER
2 P. COLONNA
3 W. HOUNKPATIN
4 F. VANVERBERGHE
5 T. STANIFORTH
6 M. BABILLOT
7 N. CHAMPION DE CRESPIGNY
8 T. ARDRON
9 S. ARATA
10 B. URDAPILLETA
11 F. NAKOSI
12 V. BOTITU
13 A. COCAGI
14 G. PALIS
15 J. DUMORA
Replacements
16 B. HUMBERT
17 A. TICHIT
18 G. MARAVAT
19 J. RAISUQE
20 B. DELAPORTE
21 G. DOUBRÈRE
22 L. LE BRUN
23 L. CHILACHAVA
