No comments from Namosi Rugby Union and Fiji Corrections Service on Nasilasila situation

The Namosi Rugby Union says it will not give any information on whether Amenoni Nasilasila is part of their team to take play in the Skipper Cup Competition.

This comes after Fijivillage questioned them on information that Nasilasila is allegedly training with the team.

The Fiji Corrections Service is yet to confirm if former national sevens player Amenoni Nasilasila who is serving a sentence of 8 years imprisonment for rape has been granted 'special permission' to represent the Namosi rugby team in the Skipper Cup Competition.

Nasilasila who raped a 24-year-old woman in a settlement in Sigatoka on 22nd December 2018 was spotted training with the Namosi rugby team on Tuesday at the Suva Grammar School ground.

The Fiji Corrections Service has not responded to questions about why Nasilasila is training with the team and if this is part of his rehabilitation program.

Fijivillage has sent questions to the Commissioner of the Fiji Corrections Service Francis Kean and Director Rehabilitation Salote Panapasa.

They have not officially responded.

Fijivillage can confirm that some serving inmates have represented the Namosi rugby team in the past under arrangements made with the Fiji Corrections Service.

In its 2016 Annual Report, the Fiji Corrections Service said "officers and selected inmates participated in the Skipper Cup Competition and other organized rugby games in Suva and Namosi for the last season".

Director of Rehabilitation Senior Superintendent Salote Panapasa had made it clear that once Nasilasila undergoes all the relevant treatment programs then they will commence his reintegration process.

She had also confirmed that appropriate measures have also been addressed internally at Corrections Service to ensure proper processes are followed.

This is after on 29th October last year, Nasilasila also took part in a scrimmage session between the Tuvalu 7s team and the Wardens Team which was preparing for the Oceania Rugby Sevens tournament.

This was only five days after he was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment by Judge Justice Daniel Goundar in the Lautoka High Court.

Nasilasila's involvement in that scrimmage session last year received condemnation from Oceania Rugby, Fiji Women's Rights groups, and also led to the Tuvalu Rugby Union issuing a public apology.

At the time, the Fiji Women's Rights groups said the action sent a dangerous message to the public that perpetrators of sexual violence will not be held to account, especially when they have national sporting achievements.