Fiji to boycott Rugby World Cup if travel sanctions remain

Last Updated: Wed, 1 Jun 2011 13:31:00 +1000

The head of Fiji's Olympic Committee says they may boycott the Rugby World Cup this year if travel sanctions mean they cannot select the best team possible.

Vidhya Lakhan told the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation the International Rugby Board should consider moving Fiji's matches away from New Zealand if the sanctions remain.

They have been in place since Fiji's military leader Frank Bainimarama seized power in a coup in 2006.

In 2009, FIFA moved a World Cup qualifier between New Zealand and Fiji away from New Zealand, when goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau was denied a visa because of his links to the military.

Fiji will name its initial 50-man squad for the World Cup this Saturday, and several players with military links are likely to be included.

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Fiji Rugby Union board concerned about player sanctions

Last Updated: Tue, 24 May 2011 16:32:00 +1000

The Fiji Rugby Union has called on the International Rugby Board to relocate the Sevens World Series away from Australia and New Zealand.

The Fiji Rubgy Union (FRU) board has written to the world rugby body, voicing Fiji's concern about sanctions being placed on players with connections to the Fiji Military Force.

The FRU says the national side's performance in London over the weekend showed that when Fiji Rugby is able to select players on merit, they perform well.

Australia and New Zealand imposed heavy travel sanctions on Fiji following the coup in which Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power in 2006.

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