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With the 2023 Rugby World Cup just around the corner, Fiji Rugby is buzzing with activity.
Simon Raiwalui was recently announced as the Flying Fijians national coach with five assistant coaches, three being of Fijian heritage, Senirusi Seruvakula, Seremaia Bai and Graham Dewes, as well as Glen Jackson and Brad Harris. This was coupled with the announcement of Inoke Male, as head coach of the unbeaten Super W Fijiana Drua women’s side.
On the home front, Fiji rugby fans were dismayed early this week, when Fiji Rugby interim CEO Tevita Tuiloa, in a personal post on Facebook, spoke on the welfare of players, their hardships and challenges as well as the shocking news regarding a promise not fulfilled, a house and land package for Fiji’s international rugby sevens star Jerry Tuwai.
It was a promise made by the previous Fiji First, Frank Bainimarama-led government, who is the current president of Fiji Rugby. A fact that to many, does not come as a surprise.
(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
The previous week, the interim CEO also posted his concerns around player welfare issues, referencing the sudden death of 19-year-old Ratu Pasikali Naevo, who collapsed training at the Fiji Rugby High Performance camp whilst preparing for the upcoming World Rugby U20 championships in South Africa in June.
With the tragic news breaking out across the country, staff leading the camp were immediately terminated by Fiji Rugby, unbeknownst to the interim CEO. Furthermore, much to the astonishment of many, three days later they were recalled and re-issued suspension letters, but are now currently back in training camp.
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The interim CEO has been at the helm of Fiji Rugby since January 2023, after the resignation of John O’Connor. It appears that interference with daily operational matters is the work of chairman, Humphrey Tawake.
The writing is on the wall. The administration at the country’s rugby house continues to deteriorate, under the leadership of the humiliated former Prime Ministers and behind the scenes, Rasputin-like, Namosi Rugby Union president, Francis Kean, two peas in a pod.
In 2007, Kean was charged with murder and convicted for manslaughter of a family member at a wedding, spent two weeks in prison, walked out, was then reinstated as Navy Commander in 2009, and later from 2016-2023 was the Commissioner of Prisons.
Frank Bainimarama. (Photo by Pita Simpson/Getty Images)
In 2013, the constitution of Fiji Rugby was changed to include the Prime Minister. Previously, people represented in the board had no political affiliations, some may argue otherwise. Kean masterminded the entry of relative Bainimarama, which has resulted in the implosion of Fiji Rugby.
Bainimarama currently has a case sitting at the Department of Public Prosecutions for allegations regarding the abuse of power, after forcing his way into government via a coup and serving as Prime Minister of Fiji from 2006- 2022.
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Historically, Fiji Rugby is plagued by financial and governance issues, a reflection of the previous government’s way of conducting business. That culture has diminished a clean rugby reputation in the local and international ecosystem, somewhat saved by the continued outstanding performances of Fijian players who continue to excel across the globe.
With an AGM scheduled for 16 April 2023, ABC correspondent in Fiji, Lice Movono, has reported that out of twenty-eight affiliated unions in Fiji, only twenty per cent are currently allowed to vote. Eighty per cent of these are non-compliant. It is unknown for how long they have been non-compliant.
Neither is it known as to whether there has been work to capacity build compliance across five areas, two key ones being finance and gender. Fans are calling for an intervention by the current Fiji government. Is this also a sign for an intervention by World Rugby?
Clearly there are two people at the helm of Rugby in Fiji bringing the game into disrepute and working behind the scenes via the current chairman, Humphrey Tawake. Both Bainimarama and Kean hold votes in the powerful twenty per cent that are compliant.
