Players with links to the Islands take action at rejections

New Zealand Rugby has been forced into a major backdown after a Herald investigation found they were trying to ban players with Pacific Island links from next week’s national sevens tournament in Rotorua.

The dispute also involves an apparent admission by a NZR official that it is uncertain of the legality of trying to coerce players out of Pacific Island teams in return for allowing them to play for their provinces.

And one email shown to the Herald as it investigated the situation this week reveals the apparent fear the under-pressure New Zealand sevens programme is feeling in the re-shaped international scene.

The players, all New Zealanders according to the players’ union, wanted the bans overturned with one considering legal action if he remained sidelined.

Last night most got their way after hurried NZR meetings, with the Rugby Players’ Association revealing 14 out of 16 applications by men and women who play for Pacific Island teams were now approved for Rotorua. It is believed more than half were initially turned down, with around five of those involving Samoan men.

There were conspiracy claims in some quarters that the bans were a reprisal against Samoan coach Sir Gordon Tietjens, who criticised NZ Rugby after his side failed at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The RPA took another view: that the high performance tail had been allowed to wag the NZR executive’s dog.

This is because the initial sevens bans were at odds with the Super Rugby attitude, where each New Zealand team is allowed three Pacific Island players as of right.

The RPA got involved three days ago, with its boss Rob Nichol telling the Herald: “We are talking about players who were born and bred here in New Zealand. These are players who for whatever reason have ended up representing other countries but they are loyal New Zealanders.”

The RPA took the matter to the rugby top brass, chief executive Steve Tew and his No 2 Neil Sorenson.