As the Fiji Water Flying Fijians gear up for their Killik Cup match against the Barbarians this weekend, a few have taken to social media their frustration including Swire Shipping Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans of how the Flying Fijians have been treated in terms of players based in the Northern Hemisphere not being released for this match.
In a post on his social media account, Evans stated that this is despicable behaviour by the clubs in the French and English leagues.
He says when Fiji Rugby asked the two leagues for their players to be released for this match, they were told “No! It is outside of the release window.”
He adds that yet 15 of the players from the same leagues were released to play for the Baabaas against the Flying Fijians this weekend.
Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne says he will be seeing Barbarians coach Robbie Deans after the game to ask him how he managed to get those players released from the two leagues to play for the Barbarians.
Byrne confirmed that only one French-based player in Vilimoni Botitu was released by his club to join the Flying Fijians camp.
He says he would love to have those Norther Hemisphere-based players in his squad as well, but for now, he will work with whatever players they have in camp, especially with the Drua players who were not named in the 33-member squad but have stepped in for this Killik Cup match.
The Flying Fijians will take on the Barbarians at 4.15am Sunday at Twickenham Stadium.
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