The Fiji Rugby Union has made a public apology to the management of the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side for staying outside Sydney Airport for four hours during their travel from Fiji to Dubai.
Fiji Rugby Football Union Trust Board Interim Chair, Peter Mazey says the welfare, safety and well-being of all the players and staff is very important and they don't take that lightly.
He says they let the Fijiana 7s team down.
Mazey also confirmed that the photos of the girls sleeping on the benches that is being widely circulated, are true.
He says the men's team had pre-booked their accommodation but when Fijiana 7s coach Saiasi Fuli tried to get rooms in nearby hotels on arrival in Sydney, none were available.
He adds that the rooms should have been pre-booked like the men's team because it was known before hand.
The Chair says as it is usual practice, all travel and layover accommodation are organized by the World Rugby HSBC Tournament team and apparently, they were not aware of Sydney Airport closing at 11pm, hence they didn't book accommodation in Sydney.
He says they thought it was a normal layover and the team could rest between flights within the airport.
Mazey says Emirates Airlines, the sponsors of the Dubai 7s, ensured that all teams could have a well-earned rest and sleep on the 15-hour flight from Sydney to Dubai as they upgraded the Fijiana 7s team and the staff to Business Class.
He adds the FRU General Manager High-Performance and the Women’s High-Performance have started meeting with the team managers prior to them leaving for all tournaments.
He further adds that this will ensure the team has everything covered, and managers are now communicating and working together so there is no doubling up and everyone is supporting each other.
Mazey also assured everyone that this incident will not happen again.
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