Rugby dilemma – club rugby or national duties

Questions have been raised on whether there has been pressure on some of the Fiji Water Flying Fijians players who are signing new overseas contracts or extending their contracts, which also links to their non-availability for national duties including the Rugby World Cup.

World Rugby regulations require clubs to release players for major tests and tournaments and forbid clubs from offering players incentives to turn down national selection.

People are now raising the issue on whether all clubs are following this.

Over the weekend, it was confirmed that forwards Peceli Yato and Apisalome Ratuniyarawa have left the squad just 47 days away from the Rugby World Cup.

When questioned by fijivillage News, Fiji’s Head Coach Simon Raiwalui, he said that Yato is leaving on his own accord while Ratuniyarawa had to make a decision based on the best interests of his family.

It has been confirmed that Yato has signed a 2 year contract with Clermont until 2025 with 1 optional year after that.

Raiwalui further says family is the most important thing for them, and all clubs have been very supportive.

Ratuniyarawa used to play for London Irish who have been suspended from the Gallagher Premiership due to financial difficulties.

Last week, his new club Bayonne posted up that “Bayonne is happy to welcome Api Ratuniyarawa, Fijian second rower, as World Cup joker.”

Bayonne says “with more than 120 matches on the clock in the Premiership and more than 40 selections with Fiji, it is a solid reinforcement for CIEL and BLANC.”

fijivillage News has asked the question regarding club rugby and national duties as this has also come up in the past years.

In 2012, Sydney Morning Herald had reported that former All Black and Racing Metro backs coach Simon Mannix had alleged that some Fiji players at the Paris club were kept there to play in the Top 14 rather than be involved in the global tournament in New Zealand in 2011.

Mannix had said that Racing Metro had Fijians who declined to go to the World Cup because the club gave them a cheque if they stayed in Paris.

The former All Black who coached at the club from 2006 till November 2011 alleged Sireli Bobo, Jone Qovu and Josh Matavesi were involved. The club denied the allegations at the time.