Dan Leo has issued withering update regarding ongoing ugly Fijian controversy
Daniel Leo has hit back at claims by USA Sevens coach Mike Friday that he is using the sport as a political football by threatening to get it banned from the Olympics in his battle with World Rugby. The Pacific Rugby Players Welfare chief executive is seeking World Rugby governance reform following the recent Francis Kean controversy which saw the Fiji rugby chairman attempt to contest the World Rugby executive committee election despite evidence of homophobic comments and a conviction for manslaughter.
Kean eventually quit the election, where he had also seconded Bill Beaumont’s nomination to become chairman, but the fall-out left American boss Friday telling RugbyPass: “This is a pretty juvenile strong-arm tactic to throw out there given all the work that has been done to get sevens into the Olympics. More importantly, sevens is the only authentic way we can make the sport global. Being out of the Games could have serious effects for those who come out of and we need to be careful using the sport as a political football.”
Leo has now responded, using a lengthy PRPW column directed at the Fiji Sun newspaper to reiterate his stance regarding Kean and his alleged incitement to brutalise the Fijian prison officers he commanded, the status of rugby sevens at the 2021 Olympics in Japan, and further undermining what he believes is the inadequate running of Fijian rugby by its officials be recalling his organisation’s ignored pre-RWC 2019 correspondence with the FRU.
“To be very clear, Pacific Rugby Players Welfare believes that the current chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union is not a fit and proper person to organise a game of touch rugby in a muddy backyard, let alone to serve as chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union, to sit on the World Rugby Council or even – heaven’s above – the WR Exco.
“Neither is the chairman’s brother in law, the prime minister and current president of the FRU who appointed the chairman in 2015, nor the prime minister’s cousin, the FRU CEO. We continue to press World Rugby on the status of their investigation into Francis Kean which they promised on April 19 immediately following the Sunday Times’ expose of his shocking homophobic language and incitement to brutalise prison officers he commanded.
Politicians & their corruption are killing rugby in the islands Mike . If we dont address this then we never progress. Meanwhile the sport prospers off our players.
If @WorldRugby don’t want to fix it then what options do we have but to appeal to the higher governing bodies?
— Daniel Leo (@danleo82) April 30, 2020
“If you are as interested as you say in the long-term success of rugby sevens in the Olympic programme, we can guarantee that the best way to achieve this is to make sure that Kean (no matter what passport and under which made-up names he selects) goes nowhere near the Tokyo competition,” said Leo in his hard-hitting column.
“There is nothing more likely to cause rugby sevens to be removed from the IOC sports programme than for World Rugby and the FRU to have failed to prevent a known homophobic, convicted killer from receiving accreditation to the event, let alone the probable dressing room and pitch access he would expect and even the possibility of presenting medals.
“It’s a reflection that aspects of World Rugby are past their sell-by date, with their fly-in, fly-out expatriate governance experts, that Kean was able to get as far as he did. World Rugby has been marking their homework for too long and the PRPW is leading the process in calling that out.
“The USA sevens coach Mike Friday, a man whose service to the game I respect, isn’t across the issues of how much damage Kean is doing and has done to Fiji rugby. Just in the same way, we are not across the many challenging issues that USA Rugby faces. But unlike him, we chose not to comment on what we are not fully briefed on. So we have invited him to study the situation in Fiji before he goes into bat for the current FRU chairman.
“It boils down to this: You are either on the side of a homophobic, convicted killer who incites his junior officers to violence leading to multiple deaths in custody, or you are against such a person having anything to do with the game.
“It is for rugby and all the sport’s stakeholders to make their choice on Francis Kean. We know that you have made your choice. We are sure that Friday’s ultimate benefactors at the US Olympic Committee would have a fit if they understood their delegation’s sevens coach was giving anything close to encouragement or approval for someone so obviously unfit for the office his brother in law appointed him to hold.”
Leo wrapped up his column by referencing Fiji’s recent World Cup XVs campaign, which ended in the disappointment of failing to reach the quarter-finals in Japan. “It might interest your readers to reflect on the last time we had any direct dealings with the Fiji Rugby Union. Just so you can be sure in your own mind who has the best interests of Fiji rugby and her fans at heart.
EXCLUSIVE @MikeFriday09 thinks Dan Leo's threat to rugby's place in the Olympics is a step too far
– reports @chrisjonespress https://t.co/mKJ243qEOi
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 29, 2020
“In August 2018 we wrote to the FRU CEO to encourage him in the strongest possible terms to demand that World Rugby revisit the schedule for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as both Fiji and Samoa [yet again] had received draws that gave their tier one group rivals a significant advantage. This was more than a year before the tournament.
“Fiji played her four Test matches in 18 days vs 20 days for Wales and Australia (Samoa was 18 days vs Scotland and Ireland’s 21 days). Who knows, if Fiji had more than three days’ recovery time between the Australia and Uruguay matches – what we were asking the FRU CEO to ensure his team had – the outcome of the whole tournament could have been different.
Excellent idea…
https://t.co/oI8h6hlZpD— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 29, 2020
“There is no evidence that the FRU CEO even thought to raise this subject. As we said at the time, ‘waiting for scraps and quivering with gratitude is not the way to overhaul a system that has stripped the best from the Pacific and given so little back in return. That is why we chose to stand united as rugby professionals and proud Pacific Islanders, and are happy to look after each other for the common good’.
“The FRU and the Fiji Sun have spent too long waiting for scraps and quivering with gratitude. Both are obstacles to what the game of rugby needs now more than ever.”
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
3 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
3 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments