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.
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.
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.
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
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
82 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments