‘Dirty’ games

Claims raised against World Rugby interference in FRU

THERE has been a call from the biggest provincial rugby union to limit World Rugby’s involvement in the affairs of the Fiji Rugby Union.

This is after sources claimed that World Rugby has been influencing the appointment of the Flying Fijians coach in recent years.

“The selection of the local coach must be done by the Fiji Rugby Union. They can ask for assistance from somewhere else, but the selection comes from here. There is a lot of interference coming in from World Rugby within FRU,” Suva Rugby Union secretary Nemani Tuifagalele claimed.

“FRU is a sovereign institution of its own, they make their own decisions and are not to be interfered in by World Rugby which brings me to the structure. The structure of the FRU has allowed the interference of an external body domestically.

“The current general manager HPU is like the boss of the Fiji 7s coach, Fijiana 7s and Flying Fijians coach. You’re not asking any questions anymore to Simione Valenitabua who is supposed to be the operation man, but the GM HPU seems to be performing that role. The GM HPU is paid by World Rugby which means they will continue to meddle in the affairs of the FRU,” he claimed.

Another source who chose to remain anonymous and was involved with the FRU claimed that World Rugby had interfered in the selection of the Flying Fijians coach last year.

“Last year the short-listed candidates were Scott Robertson, Senirusi Seruvakula, Wayne Pivac, Simon Raiwalui and a former Harlequins coach. The board was split as some preferred Simon and the others wanted Seruvakula but World Rugby threatened Fiji Rugby saying if the coaching role was not given to Simon, they would pull some funding,” the source said.

He claimed that there had been “dirty politics wanting to control the appointment of the national coach. They choose people that are loyal to them because they knew if somebody like Senirusi was appointed, they wouldn’t be able to have their way.”

“When Simon was given the role, the FRU was then forced to localise the other coaching panel which saw Senirusi again given the under-study role. I don’t know why World Rugby wants to get involved in the recruitment process when their role is to support the unions in their own process.”

Questions have been sent to World Rugby and remained unanswered when this edition went to press.