The inclusion of Amenoni Nasilasila playing in the Skipper Cup final presented significant and unavoidable conflicts with the Fiji Rugby Union’s core regulations and duty of care.
The FRU highlighted this today after a lot of concerns were raised on why Nasilasila did not play, saying the decision to not permit his participation was based on two primary factors.
They say firstly it would be a breach of Tournament Terms of Participation (TOP) where the player’s circumstances directly contravened the tournament's established Terms of Participation.
The FRU says they cannot and will not breach their own rules to accommodate one individual, as doing so would compromise the integrity of the competition and set a damaging precedent.
They say the second has to do with player welfare concern.
The FRU says while the player may be deemed physically fit, a return to a high-intensity final without an adequate period of contact and collision training poses a significant risk of major injury.
They say that that they have a paramount duty of care to all players, and this decision was made to prevent a potentially serious liability issue for the organization and, more importantly, to protect the player's long-term health and successful reintegration into the sport.
The FRU says they firmly believe in second chances and the power of rugby to heal and rebuild lives.
However, they must also uphold the standards that govern our sport, and breaching their own TOP to fast-track a player into a final undermines the integrity of their competition and opens the door to legal challenges from other teams.
The FRU says their duty of care to the player is non-negotiable.
They say throwing Nasilasila into a final without the necessary preparation is not in his best interest or the interest of the game we love.
The FRU emphasizes that this decision is not a rejection of the player, but a necessary step to ensure his proper transition.
The Union says they are committed to supporting Nasilasila’s rehabilitation journey and will work to facilitate his return to rugby in a structured and safe manner in due time.
They acknowledge the public interest in this matter and reaffirms their unwavering support for the Yellow Ribbon program and the rehabilitation and reintegration of a former inmate back into society through the game of rugby.
