What They Said

All Blacks captain Kieran Read

“We need to be very careful that we balance the commercial needs of the game with the player welfare needs and ensure the quality and integrity of matches meets expectations. “Fans want to see meaningful games; they don’t want to see fatigued players playing a reduced quality of rugby as part of a money-driven, weakened competition that doesn’t work for the players and clubs.”

World Rugby deputy chairman Gus Pichot

“How can I say to Fiji, bad luck guys, you are sidelined for the next 12 years. Bye-bye. Do you think I am that stupid to be like this or that dishonest? What is the gain for me to say, 'tough luck for the rest of you, now, f..k o '. No, this is not who I am or how I am. I will walk away if this does not happen in the way that it should. I have no reason to be involved except to try and make this come about. I just want the game to grow. Full stop. That is it.”

Former All Blacks and Samoa international Va'aiga Tuigamala

“I think what the world needs to understand is that Pacific Islanders have been shunted. They've been deprived of their rightful place in world rugby. I say this as a very proud ex-All Black player and very proud former Manu Samoa player. “I think you can read between the lines and I think Steve Tew has got to be kidding himself – it's quite obvious that we've been shunted again. They say that nothing has been confirmed or finalised but you don't need to be a rocket scientist to read between the lines.”