APV1 says...

@ mana - according to the IRB regulations (Reg 9, to be specific), it is illegal.

It's the lack of proof / whistle-blowing from players which is the issue. How can they sanction a club if the players don't give them evidence? And why would a player ruin his club career and main source of income?

It's a terribly tough situation for a club to put a player in and I hope it's just a few bad apples and we can get rid of them. My concern is, if caught and sanctioned, why would a multi-gazillionaire care about a fine?

Posted 10:32 09th November 2012

side_stepper says...

@ Trader2..pardon my crude response about pride but much has changed now in Fiji, with more players reluctantly opting for club commitments with big money then proudly wearing the Fiji jersey..with the unavailability of jobs and with the amount of people living below the poverty line, providing food on the table is most important, which is a reluctant decision players have to make in opting for club commitments. And also I forgot about the extended families and relatives that Fijian rugby players have a responsibilty towards..we are a communal setting and very deeply rooted in communal relationships. I'm afraid however, that as a Fijian in this day and age, money talks!!

Posted 22:32 07th November 2012

APV1 says...

@ Trader2 - thank you for the insight. My concern is, as Ferdie suggests, for a player to whistle-blow would potentially be tantamount to career-ending. Add that to the fact that the IRB sanctions are, I believe, a fine, a gazillionaire will probably laugh it off and just pay up.

If this is going on, I can see why the players might be tempted, but it's a real black mark against what we all like to think of as an honourable game.

The outcry and shame from all quarters from the "Bloodgate" scandal just goes to show how highly we regard the principals of rugby and how hurt we all are when they are ridden roughshod over.

Posted 15:57 07th November 2012

APV1 says...

@ Ferdie - the main difference is that the IRB set certain "windows" when players must be released if asked by their country. There is no choice, unless they are not picked or they, as a player, decline. The allegation appears to be that the players are being paid to "decline" during these mandatory windows.

The "out" clauses are sometimes in contracts for Lions and / or Baa-Baas, but not for international duties. The Lions is a little peculiar because, although international, it is not counted by the IRB for mandatory-release.

Posted 11:06 07th November 2012

any1buttheABs says...

@Monkeyboy......the article said European and UK clubs not T14 and AP clubs, I know you have a slight bias of anything non PRO12 but how on earth do you know Nicky Little was not talking about Irish, welsh or scottish teams ?, or that it does not go on worldwide ?. Please be grown up when posting comments otherwise it just makes you look juvenile.

Posted 10:48 07th November 2012

ArmchairGeneral says...

@APV1. Agree. Was thinking the same. Anyway Mannix... Apparently England paid him to upset the Fijian camp just before the game with this.

Posted 09:05 07th November 2012

side_stepper says...

Totally agree with you ArmchairGeneral, at least from Fiji's perspective. The pride of wearing the white jumper (ie. with the coconut palm) has dropped since the game turned professional, as most Fijians are full time players with no other qualifications to fall back on one they retire. Also the funding from the FRU (mind you, not the RFU) is minimal during tours and players are even sometimes forced to lodge with Fijian community members, especially in European countries. I could write a whole essay on this but in a nutshell, I believe that this is what's expected. I'm not surprised and I don't blame the clubs for this since they have their own agendas to meet (which unfortunately contrasts with the issue of wearing the white jumper with pride)

Posted 06:34 07th November 2012

melkdave says...

If true it certinally doesnt show french club rugby in a good light.It also goes against the whole ethos of the game imo.To bribe players not to represent their country ,to me smacks of corruption and cheating,as bad as the cricket and fotball players being paid to lose matches.As a team shorn of players except by injury certinally handicaps them to a very large degree,and if gotten away with once .Well just where will it stop D.Carter being paid not to play for NZ.There has to be a public investigation into this asap imo.One good thing that might come out of it is the LNR stragglehold on french rugby finally being broken if proved true,which imo wouldnt be a bad thing in the long run .

Posted 21:07 06th November 2012

dezz says...

@ Andy1000. Can you explain the Nicky Little comment as I thought he was Fijian.

Posted 18:30 06th November 2012

ArmchairGeneral says...

Fair enough. The fact they are offering the money shows the players were free to leave if they chose. But they didn't. That's a pride issue Fiji needs to address with their players.

Posted 17:29 06th November 2012