Islands drift further from mainstream

THE plight of the Pacific Islands might, one think, prompt action from rugby bosses if it were not for the fact we have said this during every World Cup in the professional era – and nothing has changed.

The depressing discrimination continues. Fiji (Population: 900,502), Samoa (196,440) and Tonga (108,020) are the poor relations of the sport and they will remain that way.

Though they are on the outside looking in, the rich – including Ireland! – will continue to prevail over a status quo that serves the elite.

Almost 20 per cent of the world’s pros are of Islander extraction and Samoa’s Jack Lam – a friend of Bundee Aki, Irish via Samoa and New Zealand – reminded us of the shocking obstacles players like him face. “There were a couple of contracts in France that I could’ve taken,” said Lam (pictured), who is a cousin of Connacht’s PRO14-winning coach, Pat.

“But they had the condition that I had to turn down playing for Samoa in the World Cup and in the future as well.

“I just couldn’t do that to myself and the jersey and it just didn’t cross my mind. It was a bit of a risk, especially for my family, but my missus and my family were all behind my decision.

“Hopefully in the future it will change and we won’t have these kind of problems where we have to pick certain players.”

It is, however, unlikely to change. The traditional superpowers of rugby will not do anything to limit their influence.

And all the leading rugby nations – including Ireland – should be ashamed that the situation will remain the same at the next World Cup in France.