International Rugby Board urges New Zealand to reconsider ban on Fiji – 2011 Rugby World Cup news
Intervening in the hottest issue in rugby today, International Rugby Board (IRB) has urged New Zealand to review the harsh travel bans imposed on Fiji’s rugby players and officials. The IRB was quiet on the issue earlier on and has broken the ice after Fiji
Rugby Union threatened its possible boycott from Rugby World Cup if sanctions are not lifted. The Chief Executive of International Rugby Board, Mike Miller, told the media about the latest development on the issue on June 2.
The prevailing issue is still unsolved after many vocal wars of bitter words between the sides. New Zealand Rugby union is not ready to show any flexibility over the issue and has expressed its stand on many occasions. On the other hand FRU is trying to
sort out the matter to send its best team in the forthcoming RWC. Fiji could compete well in the upcoming event if it is allowed to send the players of its choice to New Zealand.
Previously, the Fijians had qualified for the quarter-final stages for the last Webb Ellis Trophy, played in France. They have got a unique style of play and are famous all over the world. However, the travel ban could pour cold water over their preparations
for the RWC as their six major players fall under the sanctions.
The CEO of International Rugby Board, Mike Miller, expressed his hope to win the consent of Kiwi authorities and help lift the ban. He said, "Clearly it's a sensitive issue. Issues like this are best sorted out in private, when you can sit down and have
reflective conversations with people outside of the public glare. We've been having meetings for the last few months. We will continue to meet on the subject and it really doesn't help to play this out in public."
Earlier, an official of the FRU had slammed the proposal of Fiji's Olympic committee to snub the World Cup and called it ridiculous. Keni Dakuidreketi further cleared that this was the personal opinion of Fiji's Olympic committee’s head and Fiji Rugby Union
has nothing to do with it.
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