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Convicted rapist allowed play while serving sentence
By Chris Jones
Fijian rugby authorities are expected to face pressure to explain why Former Fiji 7s player Amenoni Nasilasila was taking part in the Skipper Cup competition for Namosi against Tailevu at the weekend despite still serving a sentence for rape.
He was jailed for eight years in 2019 for raping a 24-year-old woman at Olosara, Sigatoka on 22 December, 2018.Nasilasila is serving his sentence at the Naboro Corrections Centre, and the Fiji Times reported that he started the match at fly half and finished off at fullback.
The 30-year-old’s cousin is Lote Tuqiri the dual Australian rugby international and made his Fiji 7s debut at the 2014 Dubai Sevens scoring a try in the 54-7 win over France but did not make the Fiji squad that won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
There was widespread condemnation of Nasilasila's previous inclusion at a local tournament in February with Fijian human rights advocate Shamima Ali then calling then for the "immediate withdrawal" of Nasilasila from the Wardens team, saying it was "beyond belief" that he was allowed to represent the government department.
She added: "He is a convicted rapist and it is beyond belief that the Fiji Corrections Service has allowed him to play in the Wardens side - he is not a warden, he is an inmate.”
However, despite the anger and negative publicity generated by that decision earlier the year, the player has once again been allowed to take part in an important domestic rugby competition.
World Rugby responded to his previous appearance making it clear the game’s governing body did not not condone any person convicted of a serious crime and currently serving their sentence undertaking any official rugby activities under Union jurisdiction.
In September 2021, Nasilasila appealed against his conviction and filed a bail pending appeal application which was also refused by Acting Resident Judge, Justice Chandana Prematilaka.
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Latest Comments
The manner of all these comments is that it doesn’t matter who plays No10 for the All Blacks, apparently they are all rubbish!
Seriously, people need to get a grip and stop obsessing over every tiny error made from an overscrutinised position. DMac was good this year for the most part, as was Beauden Barrett. Mo’unga was good last year and would be an asset in the group if he did come back. I don’t see it as an area of concern.
The main concern in 2025 is finding another world class lock and loose forward, followed by some scrutiny over the midfield combination in my view.
Go to commentsI was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
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