O’Connor allows rugby fans to watch challenge

THE 50 per cent seating capacity at any sporting event was thrown out of the window as hundreds of Tailevu rugby fans swarmed Prince Charles Park to support their team challenge Nadi for the Farebrother Sullivan Trophy but left home disappointed following the 10-28 loss.

With an hour to go before the fixture, fans were still pouring into Prince Charles Park resulting in the closure of the entry point for the pavilion as it was full to capacity. At kick-off time there was still a long queue at the ticket booth with mostly Tailevu fans waiting for their tickets to gain entry.

Fans climbed above the police post and perched on the trees on the embankment to get a better view of the match as it was also jam-packed.

When questioned by this newspaper if there was an exemption given to the 50 per cent capacity rule Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer John O’Connor said there was none.

“When we reached the 50 per cent, there were still a lot of Tailevu fans outside and they had travelled a long way,” O’Connor said.

“We did not want them to be out there because it was more dangerous trying to find places to watch the game from. This decision has come from me.

“For me it was really unfair that they had come all the way and having paid their bus fare and for us to close the gate and send them home.

“I did not think it would have been the right thing to do. So I asked the people responsible to continue until the last person and then close off the gate.”

According to Wikipedia, Prince Charles Park has a capacity of 18,000. O’Connor said in most of their games they closed the gates upon reaching 50 per cent capacity.

He said because of this there had been a lot of disappointments.

“People travelled a long way and this was the final round. And after this round I may seek pardon, it’s a joke,” O’Connor laughed off.