Sport and Politics - impact of sanctions on Fiji's RWC selection

Interesting story coming out of the Pacific. Since Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama's democracy-ending coup in 2006, Australia and New Zealand have forbidden entry to serving military personnel, regime appointees and their families entering the country. Fiji had already complained to the IRB that FRU officials (including Voreqe Bainimarama who is patron of the FRU) were not going to be allowed to attent the RWC. Now it appears that NZ Customs may also bar any Fijian players who are serving in the military and selected in their RWC squads from entering NZ to play in the World Cup. In response Fiji (one of the top 7s nations) are threatening to boycot next year's Wellington and Brisbane IRB 7s legs.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/sevens/5043169/Fiji-threatens-boycott-of-Wellington-Sevens

It's also worth noting that diplmatic relations between Fiji and Tonga are at an incredibly low ebb:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/5017117/Fiji-seeks-extradition-of-runaway-colonel
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/5008060/Fiji-Tonga-war-over-Minerva-Reef

Thoughts?

Nothing too heavy on a Monday morning then Kiwi? It would be sad if politics lessened the value of the tournament. Fiji got within a gnats pube of the final in France. However in diplomatics :bowler: if you don't condemn you may condone. If Fiji is abusing human rights or threatening war, sanctions must be taken.

More woes for Fijian rugby:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10728812

Selfishly anything that disrupts Fiji for the game with Wales will be a god send!

None of their overseas professional players will be affected by the New Zealand ban, so I dont see how much of a problem it will really cause.

AlynDavies wrote:Selfishly anything that disrupts Fiji for the game with Wales will be a god send!

Really covering yourself in glory Alyn.

It would'nt be a World cup if Wales did'nt lose to Fiji and New Zealand didn't lose to france in the quarters.

MR. scotland27 wrote:It would'nt be a World cup if Wales did'nt lose to Fiji and New Zealand didn't lose to france in the quarters.

But the latter has only happened once (and the former once or twice?) . And since NZ and France are in the same pool they can't meet before the final ...

2007 and 1999 unless I'm mistaken

MR. scotland27 wrote:2007 and 1999 unless I'm mistaken

1999 was the semi-final

(and I'll consider adding "pedant" to my user name later )

Kiwireddevil wrote:

MR. scotland27 wrote:2007 and 1999 unless I'm mistaken

1999 was the semi-final

(and I'll consider adding "pedant" to my user name later )

Alright then but it is always good to see when it happens

Notch wrote:

AlynDavies wrote:Selfishly anything that disrupts Fiji for the game with Wales will be a god send!

Really covering yourself in glory Alyn.

Well to be fair weve lost to Samoa in the 1991 and 1999 world cups in Cardiff, and we lost the 2007 world cup game to fiji also...
WE also got smashed 34-9 in Samoa in 1994 when we were 5 Nation champions so clearly their bogey sides and we need to try and get through any way we can.

I'm sure all rugby fans (including Welsh fans) want to see the Pacific Islanders come as strong as possible- but the situation in Fiji is bigger than sport and i feel that NZ are on the right side of this issue.

Notch wrote:I'm sure all rugby fans (including Welsh fans) want to see the Pacific Islanders come as strong as possible- but the situation in Fiji is bigger than sport and i feel that NZ are on the right side of this issue.

Has sensibleitis broken out in Notchtown?

Bang on the button Notch.

Alyn, let us win or lose to stronger or weaker teams, just let us do our best and let the best team win, no?

It'd be a shame but I totally understand the stance John Key has taken against members of the Fijian military and the leaders of the coup. They have broken promises about introducing democratic elections so were he to allow members of the Fijian military in then it'd be embarrassing for the government of New Zealand.

On a Rugby level, however, you want to see the best sides with their best players so you'd hope that it could be sorted by the time the tournament begins.

But some things are bigger than just Rugby...

But some things are bigger than just Rugby...


British and Irish Lions......South Africa.............ring bells?

But most of Fiji's best players don't work in the military, unless they have units in the AP or T14.

The war of words continues - the NZ Govt aren't going to budge on travel bans for members of the Fijian military.

do we know how many it effects?

Hobo wrote:do we know how many it effects?

Probably only a couple of squad players to be honest. Fiji's issue I suspect is more that most of the senior FRU officials will be banned from travelling to watch/support.

To be honest, I think I would make an exception for the players on the proviso that they are a reasonable selection. However, I have no problems with NZ banning any Fijian officials who are connected with either the military or the political leadership.

After all, what do the administrators add to the tour party anyway? As long as the players and the coaching and medical teams are there, the rest can lump it.