‘We should boycott the World Cup’
PACIFIC VIEW
Former Samoa lock Daniel Leo says the Pacific nations should pull out of the World Cup in protest at being ‘‘screwed over’’ by World Rugby.
New Zealand-born Leo, who earned 39 Samoa caps from 2005 to 2015, was reacting to news that Pacific Island teams had been excluded from the World Rugby League proposal.
Leo – now the player welfare manager for European-based Pacific players – told the Irish Times ‘‘the game of rugby has sold its soul’’.
‘‘I’d find it hard to believe that Pacific Island teams will turn up for the World Cup knowing that we are being screwed over,’’ Leo said.
‘‘If I was in the Pacific Island unions now I would very strongly be considering the next course of action if this is the way we are going to be treated.’’
Leo, who played for 12 years in England and France, said a World Cup boycott was the Pacific nations’ ‘‘only leverage’’.
‘‘Imagine how sad it would be for rugby, for the world game to become ‘our Pacific islanders against your Pacific islanders?’,’’ said Leo.
‘‘England’s Tongans and Samoans against France’s Fijians. Because that’s what the game will become.
‘‘I know there is a huge chunk of support among Pacific Islanders players, even those who play for other nations. That’s where our power lies.
‘‘The sport has been built on Pacific Island muscle since it went professional. It makes you think, as a player, what leverage do we have? The only leverage we really have is not to play.’’
Leo said the lack of opportunity to play top tier rugby nations ‘‘would kill the international game’’ in the Pacific. He hoped the plan would be reversed, otherwise ‘‘it all becomes about the money’’.
‘‘Look, you don’t play for Fiji, Samoa, Tonga for money. You do play for exposure. It was my shop window to get a better club contract.
‘‘We are professionals and we are not getting paid so it has to be about promoting your career, playing with your country yes, but getting a good club contract so you can provide for your family.
‘‘These plans incentivise players not to play for their country. Even if they do come up with a second tier competition none of the players want to stay around for that. Especially if there is no scope for moving up. That would kill the international game on the Pacific Islands.
‘‘The writing has been on the wall about the priorities and values of the game of rugby, Pacific Islanders have known that for decades.
‘‘World Rugby are not even trying to hide it anymore.’’
‘‘The only leverage we have is not to play.’’ Daniel Leo, former Samoan lock