The Cibi will always be part of Fiji Rugby.
Fiji Rugby Union Chairman Bill Gavoka has confirmed just moments ago to Fijivillage sports that the FRU Board decided in the last hour that the traditional Fijian war dance, the Cibi will be performed by all National rugby teams before an International test match.
Gavoka said this policy will not be changed.
Gavoka also said that they will call on the National 15's Coach Samu Domoni junior to relay the decision to the team.
Earlier on...
Should Fiji still do the Cibi?
To do or not to do the Fijian war dance, cibi.
That is one of the items on the agenda of today's Fiji Rugby Union Board meeting.
Our News Director, Vijay Narayan reports.
As we are just hours from ending the year 2009, one of the issues that was heavily debated by many members of the public this year was the issue of the cibi.
Should our National Rugby team perform it during international test matches and tournaments?
The FRU and the Flying Fijians were criticised for not performing the " cibi ' on the Northern Hemisphere tour last month, where they played against Scotland, Ireland and Romania.
Coach Samu Domoni Junior then insisted that the Cibi be dropped, as he said that the ritual was a throwback to the days of heathen cannibalism and was not indicative of modern Fiji.
But did the whole team agree to this suggestion? Domoni had said that everyone had agreed to it but a report from senior players on the tour has highlighted that in the players' eyes Fiji rugby has taken a huge step backwards since that memorable performance against South Africa in the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter final.
Former President of the Fiji Rugby Union, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said politics has to be removed from the Fiji Rugby Union and according to him Fiji rugby is at its lowest at the moment.
Commodore Bainimarama also said the FRU board does not have any say on the cibi as the war dance should continue without any question.
Even the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau told the Digicel Fiji 7s team last month that the cibi should be performed.
He said that the cibi has been Fiji's sporting challenge and identity for over 70 years of playing international rugby.
FRU Chairman Bill Gavoka said they will discuss the issue of the cibi and will take all the comments into account.
But this was Samu Domoni Junior's comments a few weeks ago on his stance on the cibi.
The question now is whether the FRU board will make the final decision on the cibi.
Will it leave it to the coach and players or will it take into account the calls of thousands of fans that the war dance should continue to be performed? Only time will tell.
