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EXCLUSIVE - 'Pacific Super team CEO? No islander need apply'
Fiji international Josh Matavesi is backing plans to launch a combined Pacific Islands team into the Super Rugby competition in 2021 if the new franchise is controlled by someone from outside Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
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Matavesi, who is preparing for Newcastle’s daunting Aviva Premiership play off semi-final against reigning champions Exeter at Sandy Park on Saturday, is adamant involving a franchise chief without any links to the Islands would be vital to ensure the team steers clear of allegations of corruption that have previously dogged the sport in that region.
The 27-year-old utility back said: “Corruption has been a factor since money got involved in the game and each Island has had its own problems with people taking their bit of the pie.
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“For me, any Super Rugby team would have to be controlled by someone with experience of running a sports team and I don’t think they should be from the Islands. It should be someone without any links so there are no tendencies to take a bit of pie and go away for a couple of years and then come back in another job.”
“To start, it may have to be just one team in Super Rugby because of the help that is needed but as it develops the goal could be that Tonga, Fiji and Samoa have their own teams. With time and a good structure the team could be deadly. Coaching is being developed in the Islands and in Fiji we are in a good place at the moment with good strength in depth.”
Last year Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, Chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union, rubbished claims there had been “corruption” and “mismanagement” in the handling of the Union’s financial support from World Rugby.
The Fiji Rugby Union has been battling to regain lost ground after the International Rugby Board ( now World Rugby) suspended financial support in 2014 and demanded fundamental changes in the FRU’s administration.
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It is estimated that more than 700 Islander players are currently earning money playing in Europe and in a move aimed at trying to provide a home-based alternative the New Zealand government has conducted a study into the possibility of launching a combined Pacific Islands Super Rugby team. Known as the “Pacific Force”, the team would feature players from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga with the side to be based in Suva, with home matches to be played in all three countries as well as Auckland and Sydney.
Fellow Fijian internatinal Nemani Nadolo believes the team should be based in Suva.
Player unrest over financial support has been a feature of recent tours by Islands nations to the Northern Hemisphere where the disparity between the haves and have nots of World rugby has been brought sharply into focus.
Samoa are currently trying to find out how many of their overseas based players will be available for their World Cup qualifying matches with Germany or Portugal in Apia on June 30, with the return match in Europe on July 14.
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Matavesi, capped 17 times by Fiji, was born in Cornwall with an English mother and Fijian father, and is proud of his Island heritage and wants to break back into the national team for next year’s World Cup in Japan.
He added: “For me, being able to play in different positions will hopefully give me a shot at being part of the World Cup squad and there is a still a season to go until then. For now, it is about helping Newcastle beat Exeter and to reach the Premiership final at Twickenham.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments