'Disgusting' - furious backlash over potential World Cup absences
After it has been alleged that Samoan and Tongan players have been pressured into missing the World Cup this year in order to remain with their clubs in France’s Top 14, there has been a backlash from fans on Twitter.
For Pacific Island players, the majority of their income comes from playing for their clubs, usually in France, meaning it is easier for the owners and senior figures to coerce players into avoiding the tournament which could occupy the first three months of the season for some players.
However, many fans have taken to Twitter calling for action to be taken by World Rugby to avoid this happening. This is something that has happened every World Cup, and in order for the competition to develop, the Tier Two teams need to field their best teams. However, this is just not possible if the European clubs keep hold of some players from Samoa, Tonga and Fiji.
Already this year, star Fijian players Nemani Nadolo and Timoci Nagusa, both of whom play for Montpellier, announced their retirement from international rugby, meaning they remain with their clubs. At only 31 years of age, Nadolo would have been a great asset to Fiji, as the 20 stone winger has been one of Europe’s most deadly players over the past few seasons.
Compared to Samoa and Tonga, Fiji perhaps slightly more strength in depth, meaning the loss of a few players may not affect the team too severely. However, if the other two were to lose some of their star players, it could have catastrophic consequences for their performance.
Former Samoa internationals Dan Leo and Junior Poluleuligaga have also voiced their opinion, with Poluleuligaga describing the state of affairs as “deja vu”. During their careers, they may have encountered these pressures, particularly as more money is pumped into the game.
This is what has been said:
World Rugby has already come under fire this year over their treatment of the Pacific nations with their proposal of Nations League. Therefore, to prevent further maltreatment of these players, fans are calling for World Rugby to intervene.
Of course, this leaves many players in an awkward position whereby they must choose between representing their country and earning enough money, and there are not any measures to alleviate this problem. But that does not stop this from being something that has concerned fans for a long time.
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Irish people about the best damn people on the planet. OK, in the NH. Fijians are the World’s best happiest friendliest people. But as far as European cultures producing good people, Ireland stands alone. But on the rugby pitch there is a creeping arrogance that has detached from humility. eg Sexton abusing a match referee, and not for the 1st time. He was extremely lucky to make it to the RWC, strings were pulled. And O’Mahoneys sledge to Cane was lowballing, attacking an opposition Captain seems opportunistic and gutter talk. Cane is a real gentleman. Have never seen ABs unleash after the whistle like they did on O’Mahoney after QterF, it was well deserved. Unlike Bok supporters, the Bok players understand history. Massive amount of respect between Boks and ABs is evident, they get on well and have throughout history. Even Pinetree Meads best mate (except his old cobber Kel Tremain) were Springboks, friendships forged after tours. And Meads was always targetted given his star status (he even played 2 x Tests with a broken arm). On the contrary, ABs and Wallabies famously dont get on, bad blood after Aussies not taking offer of beersies postmatch.
Go to commentsHaha god NZ journalism is so crap listen to this guy “We’ll be proven in a few weeks if our baseless bs can stick” lol Everywhere else uses experts to write stuff but here they’re just career guys that don’t care about what they write, NOT CONCEDED A TRY IN YEARS lol > “Naturally, you’re looking for performance, sometimes that means you can’t think logically or use evidence to arrive at any sort of clarity of decision. Pretty much sums it up to a tee Paul ignores the articles in here about then runs off each team this year, that Penney is just a yearly stop gap until, who, Ellison is released by ABs, the huge imbalance of the injury front between teams at each end of the table, or who it was that _should_ have been coach. But of course if they actually do evidence and investigative work theyre shy of their article not hitting that sensationalism boundary and lose revenue. Leaving us non the wiser. They look like they would have been best with a geeup coach this year to turn around the razorless depression the clubs obviously going through. Hard to think of someone fitting the Bill to have been chosen instead, the clown Cheika? Id have been tempted to double play and entice O’Gara down. Hell maybe that is who they are waiting for, he wants a international gig and it could be after Scmidt or razor
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