Fiji coach Inoke Male has slammed England, France, Australia and New Zealand for "poaching" youngsters from the Pacific Island nations.
Male comments come in the wake of England naming New Zealand-born Saracens prop Mako Vunipola, the son of former Tongan international Fe'ao Vunipola, in their squad for the November internationals where he will join Manu Tuilagi, whose elder brothers have played for Samoa.
"There are several players not available to us for this tour because they want to play for other countries," Male told the Times ahead of Fiji's clash with England at Twickenham on November 10.
"Young players now want to pursue options for other countries rather than coming on tour which is not a good sign.
"We have got a lot of problems caused by European countries, especially France and England, who have taken some of our players through their academies when they were young.
"England and France have got a lot of players to pick from already and, as a small country, for our players to be poached from us is not acceptable.
"There is one very talented player we wanted to select who went to an English academy and he is now 16-years-old and has opted to play for England.
"It is very obvious what is happening. If you go to the secondary school championships you will see scouts from Australia, New Zealand and England trying to find your players who want to go overseas. They are taking our young players like vultures.
"I will not tell you the specific players but I know of players who get invited to the UK when they are 14," added the Fiji coach.
"Now as 17-year-olds they are opting to play for England. That means everybody here who is young wants to play for England.
"As a good player that's what they choose and we respect that but it is mainly because of the money. That's what happened when boys are given the option. We need the IRB to stop this rule or change it."
Comments
7ton says...
ridgeback
Why would they be taken out of the equation when they are all Kiwis?
Posted 18:54 04th November 2012
ridgeback says...
Fiji, your coach has now come out of the 'closet' and spoken out about the poaching. Stop gripping and do something.
If one can see all the talent scouts at these youngster's events then Fiji Rugby should be looking to do the same. Ask the IRB for financial assistance to help keep these great young players. Then we can watch a Rugby Championship with 5 nations instead of four....wonderful.
A thought: what would happen to NZ rugby if the Islanders were taken out of the equation?
Posted 05:03 04th November 2012
Piriaka says...
born in NZ
Posted 10:48 03rd November 2012
bigb6969 says...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/7884872/Michael-Bent-gets-instant-nod-for-Ireland
LOL - he hasn't even set foot on the plane yet
Posted 21:49 31st October 2012
7ton says...
Kybone what Kiwis on here think he should play for NZ?
Yes he is of Tongan heritage and was most likely born in NZ because his Dad was playing rugby there which is exactly the reason he moved here at the age of 7/8 because his Dad was playing rugby here. But here was in Wales and his Dad played for a Welsh club.
Posted 02:32 31st October 2012
rakavi187 says...
definitely agree with Jamesliveinhope there.
Best option for all 3 Pacific nations is to nominate their U-20s as their next representative sides. Get them early.
As a Fijian, I cant begrduge anyone who wants to play for a Tier-1 nation. Playing for your country is all well and good but it doesnt offer the same financial security as playing for England does.
Monetary gains is still the king in the Islands.
Posted 20:28 30th October 2012
islandstyle says...
I always laugh at all this kiwis claiming that the island boys are New Zealanders, they confuse being a citizen to being a native. In the UK generation of Indians, Pakistani's and Africans still regard themselves as such but also a British citizen. I guess it stems from the fact that they themselves aren't even native New Zealanders but since its been a few generations the rule is that they now are.
Anyways the simple fact is the players makes the choice and as mentioned here before, most make such choices due to economical reasons. I don't blame them, most Fijian chose to join the British army over the Fiji army because of economical needs, we do what we must to survive the challenges of life, it's not pretty but hey who said life was easy ey.
Posted 15:23 30th October 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
@APV1 fair point and one that I have been making for a little while.
What is of concern though is the impression that's given of some form of trafficking perpetrated as part of an RFU conspiracy.
There is no conspiracy, conspiracy requires organisation and we are talking about the RFU here, but looking at it seriously both French and English playing staff are provided by the clubs to the RFU not the other way around.
What worries me more is that the welfare of these kids is being looked after properly by, what are basically, commercial concerns. Perhaps the IRB needs to regulate that side of things before we look at the rights and wrongs of their international eligibility.
Fiji's alternative is to follow the Wales model and nominate the colts as a representative side. :)
Posted 12:46 30th October 2012
lyndonmac says...
Gosh, 3 pages of comments means we've got a real issue here, and a lot of passionate argument ---good stuff. My own two cents worth: I've always thought it very unfair that money trumps national loyalty so often. The Pacific islands enrich world rugby so very much that it seems a crying shame that they can't get together every second or third year and have a combined Fiji/Samoa/Tonga team, like the British Lions. If the Irish can join the Poms to play the top 3 SH nations, why not a Pasifika tour? As a rugby lover I'd really pay money to see that!
Posted 07:15 30th October 2012
heathy says...
Crikey, this guy is a bit behind the times. First of all Vunipola and Tuilagi are not Fijians, their heritage is Tongan and Samoan respectively. They were both very young kids when they came to England and stayed here. Both Tonga and Samoa had their chance to pick both of them and didn't. These slections were entirely the choice of the players concerned. Rules are rules so don't have a go at England when they have done nothing wrong. New Zealand and Australia have had Pacific Island players for decades but the same situation has arisen for these players as they were very young when over in another country. Unless the likes of Fiji do a hell of a lot more to keep their players and/or money is distributed a hell of a lot evenly (and I mean in player development and NOT huge expenses bills for 'officials'!!!!) then this will happen time and time again. IMO I don't agree with playing for your country unless it is the country of your heritage or birth (and you have lived there most of your life etc) but this is not what the current rules say. Bleating about stuff and aiming it at the wrong nation is a bit much. Are his excuses coming out already?
Posted 18:15 29th October 2012
Danatthecorner says...
Its a very mixed up argument in which there is some kernels of truth if you look deep enough, however his anger is misplaced.
Epi Taione the ex Tonga international for instance runs an agency specifically geared towards bringing over young islander boys to play in the UK. Nothing to do with the RFU, but then 7 years later, do not start slinging mud when tehse players are eligible and picked.
It also makes sense that there would be many young boys of islander heritage starting to come through the England age groups. Many players settle here with coaching jobs when their careers finish and so what are they to do with their young families? Send them back home?
And there is also the argument that who is any international rugby union to deny someone an education and a start in life? You can't counter global economic migration, its just how things are.
Posted 14:19 29th October 2012
APV1 says...
England / UK have another twist in their tale. We have quite a few "overseas" people who are serving in our Armed Forces. Fijian soldiers have served in The Army for years and have proven, time and again, to be excellent. Many have been decorated with military honours. So who would they play for..?
Bath have also just recruited a Fijian who is serving with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - Semesa Rokoduguni:
http://www.bathrugby.com/news/club-news/army-star-joins-bath-rugby
Just more fuel for the fire...
Posted 12:32 29th October 2012
kybone says...
Dezz-' Vunipola was shocked not because Tonga never offered him but that England have called him up so quick.'- Yea but surely Tonga know all about him and have not yet called him up, so thats their problem. As far as Filians are concerned- there is one playing international rugby for a european nation, and actually the England/Fiji player swap that i know of is Josh Matavesi who was born in England and plays for Fiji.
Posted 04:32 29th October 2012
crazyTongan says...
As a Tongan I am happy that England has picked Mako...we are in the professional era...whose interest are we looking at? the player or the country....players have family..if only the IRB relaxes the rules to allow these players to again play for their country once they are not needed...look at the number of Pacific Islanders who are not needed by the ABs and England, Aussies but stuck in the rules....by the way...its not poaching as players themselves want to play for those countries anyway its not that they are forced against their will....
Posted 02:23 29th October 2012
mana says...
you're all mislead,..one should only look closer to home and ask the parents or caregivers of the child involved- are they proud for their son to rep another country?is it for their own personal development,ie education,..then let it be,no club or nation should have the right to say otherwise.these so called "poaching" has been happening for years,and sadly its NOT going to end anytime soon,so unless FRU can match other tier 1 nations with what to offer in terms of a bright future for the kid then Im afraid its not going to be the last.
Posted 17:20 28th October 2012
Dezz says...
I said before. Who grows up dreaming of playing for another country. I'm 75% Welsh and 25% English. I was born in Wales and have never dream't of playing for England even though I'm eligible. To all those players WHO COULD play for their country but choose to play for another due to greater financial or successful benefits, I say thanks for the loyalty to your heritage. If you play for another country because you aren't good enough to play country, then thats different. It normally means you are taking a step down, though their are some exceptions ALA Tim Visser. Where you are born only makes you eligible to play for that country, doesn't mean you are a native of that country. So when someone was born in New Zealand it doesn't mean he's a New Zealander. If a cat has kittens in a stable does that mean they are horses?
Vunipola was shocked not because Tonga never offered him but that England have called him up so quick.
Posted 14:07 28th October 2012
kybone says...
hellovanite- What the hell are you talking about? Have you actually got any information on the subject, or have you simply read the headline and formed an opinion? Just for your information, there are two players of pacific island heritage in the England squad, and both have lived here since they were kids, and both came over here with their families i.e. not poached. Mako Vunipola, for example, has lived her from age 7, been to school here, and first represented England at u18 level. It makes me laugh that the Kiwis on here think he should have played for them- he's a Tongan that just happened to be born in NZ while his dad was playing rugby their. By that logic Andrew Mehrtens should have played for South Africa. You can argue about this forever, but surely if someone has lived in a country , be it England or anywhere else, for most of their life how can anyone honestly suggest that the nation is 'poaching' by calling him into the national team?
Posted 11:07 28th October 2012
Waz4before says...
@ northandsouth - I agree with your "no commercial sense" comment, it doesn't and any expansion of Super Rugby is likely to focus on a 6th team for each of the current countries. And any team for the Islanders would have to be financially backed externally and be treated as an investment by the Rugby community as it would never run profitably; i believe it could be done if wise heads put their minds to it and the IRB generates the will to make it happen - alas I think the sport in general is happy with the status quo!
Posted 23:25 27th October 2012
startledwombat says...
In recent news, Sisaro Koyamaibole now has no French connection and is therefore even more available for Fiji.
Good luck to them both.
Posted 23:12 27th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
Ramage:
How does one misinterpret, if one "overstated the issue" ?
"Fiji coach Inoke Male has slammed England, France, Australia and New Zealand for "poaching" youngsters from the Pacific Island nations"
Where did I misinterpret ??
You are a very proud New Zealander (who calls Aus home !), and by all accounts a decent bloke. So I'll ask a question I asked earlier. Who would your Kids play for and would you begrudge your son if he ran out for Scotland ??
(on presumption you have kids born in Aus ?)
In my sons school. The U16 first XV captain is an Aussie, born and bred, (reds academy) however he considers himself a Kiwi, because his Father and Mother are kiwis. He has been to NZ academy (Twice) by "invites".
So if he in the next couple of years hits the INT scene and runs out for NZ does that mean NZ are poaching ??
Ironically, if he was in a state school he would have been signed up by the Brisbane Broncos at 14.
Also with regards to your $ for players ?? How much do you owe SA for Andrew Merhtans ??
Posted 22:59 27th October 2012