The Fijian Rugby Federation have made a formal complaint to their French counterparts over star lock Jone Qovu withdrawing from their November Test squad claiming he was injured before playing for his Top 14 club Racing-Metro.
The French Rugby Federation (FFR) has taken immediate action in telling Racing that Qovu will not be able to play during the period when Fiji are playing their three Tests, on Saturday against England, a week later against the Irish and on November 24 against Georgia in Tbilisi.
The Fijians had informed the FFR in September that they would be requiring four Fijians who play in France including Qovu. However, Qovu said he would be unable to join up with the squad as he was injured, but then played for Racing against Perpignan in their Top 14 clash on October 27.
"We asked Racing to explain to us why the player in question had refused to join up with the squad, if he really was injured and if that was the case how was he then fit enough to play against Perpignan," an FFR source told AFP on Saturday.
"We never received a reply. This week, the Fijian Federation wrote to us again to say that Qovu had not joined up with them.
"It was not the club that opposed him joining up with his national squad but it was the player himself who informed his Federation."
Racing's Swiss president Jacky Lorenzetti told AFP that the club had nothing to reproach themselves over the Qovu affair but had been an innocent party and was going to pay for it.
"We have put together a file which we will pass on to the FFR which will show that the club has nothing to do with this affair," he said.
"What is damaging to the club, is that the FFR, without even hearing our version of events, suspended Jone Qovu till December 4. We are going to try and have this suspension lifted."
This move by the Fijian Federation comes days after Racing's former coach Simon Mannix revealed in English daily The Independent that the Parisian club had paid three Fijians, including Qovu, to not play for Fiji in last year's World Cup.
This was entirely against international regulations, and something which the sport's governing body the IRB felt obliged to re-emphasise following Mannix's revelations - which were strongly denied by Racing - on Wednesday.
Racing-Metro lost to Top 14 tailenders Mont-de-Marsan on Saturday.
Comments
Flatattack says...
First and foremost, let me make it clear Fijians not playing for political reasons is a total bull. Secondly, Fijians are a proud race and being one myself I have yet to meet a Fijian who will think twice about representing their country.
With those two facts out of the way, my point is Qovu would have been put in a position to pick either playing for Fiji and not get paid during that period or forgo international commitment and play for the club with the security of keeping your pay. It wouldn't surprise me that he opted for the latter due to family reasons as most Fijians do. But to highlight that he personally decided to play for his club over his country is giving out only half of the facts. Other factors into why he arrived with that decision has been omitted.
Simple fact is Fiji Rugby Union does not have the money to pay its players what rich clubs in European countries do. For the integrity of international matches parity between teams, the best players need to be available (esp if Tier 2 nations are playing against Tier 1 teams as in this case). Two options are its either IRB pays players the difference when they are representing their country or it makes the clubs stringently follow its rules in terms of international commitment with full pay.
For all those that have commented on political stand and Jone Qovu's personal preference being the only reason why he opted not to represent Fiji may need to look at this holistically.
Posted 21:29 14th November 2012
Willy says...
The point being made that he may not want to represent his country for political reasons is fair enough and that is his right but why didn't he say that from the start???
Why say I'm injured and then play for your club. Thats whats caused the problem and makes it look like Racing gave him some sort of incentive (financial or otherwise) not to play for his country. IRB need to come down extremly hard on this kind of behaviour.
Posted 09:53 14th November 2012
Scrumpoacher says...
Ban internationals from playing club rugby during the test window, compensate them if they are released by their respective countries-too easy
Posted 11:46 13th November 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Racing Metro are talking bull. It just the old money-making-battery-farm-football-club model doing what they always do. You may as well be a fox chewing up hens in a coop, spitting out feathers while saying, "yeah but these hens were evil dictators and deserved to be eaten."
Oh yeah, I believe you Mr Fox. I'm sure that was your sole motivation and it's nothing to do with being a greedy selfish pig.
Posted 16:19 12th November 2012
NHsaints says...
I hope Qovu just tells them he didn't play because he'd be embarassed to play for a country under military dictatorship, that would send a real message to the whinging fijian management/union.
Posted 10:50 11th November 2012
melkdave says...
I have no problems with players not wanting to play for their country ,if its a protest against their govt or against the Fiji union ect.What i do have a problem with is clubs paying/threatening players not to play in internationals. or not releasing them for internationals The FFR and FRF and i think the IRB need clarification on this asap imo.If it was just the player then nothing untoward has happened if it was the club applying pressure or inducments ,then a big fine and auto relegation i feel is in order.
Posted 00:03 11th November 2012
cmarshment says...
Cynical short cited thinking from the French clubs. International rugby is what makes club rugby in Europe so successful. The crowds turn up to watch the international players strut their stuff in club games. If the teir 2 international sides no longer have crowd pulling power, the teir 2 international players in club rugby lose their lustre also.
Posted 23:43 10th November 2012
georgesmith says...
The Fiji Rugby Union needs to be careful with the situation because in the end, it is J. Qovu's call whether to play or not. Let's hope this mess doesn't put into jeopardy J. Qovu's future with the great club because then FRU won't help his family with a single penny. FRU needs to stop crying over players because it doesn't have the dollars to afford quality. I hope J. Qovu comes quick to say he wasn't paid by the club.
Posted 23:43 10th November 2012
JMehrtens says...
So how is that a punishment for Racing?
They are still better off now than if they would have let him play for Fiji.
In both cases they miss him for 3 weekend but now he can train with the club and doesn't risk an injury while on national duty.
What stops them from doing it again?
Posted 22:08 10th November 2012