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The islands Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, which only total 1.3 million inhabitants, represent an incredible breeding ground for world rugby. But these small nations, with limited financial means, are struggling to retain their talented players and to prepare for the World Cup in good conditions.
During the 2019 edition of the World Cup, “42 players from the Pacific have played for nations other than their own”. The figure is given by Daniel Leo, former captain of the Samoan selection, in the documentary “Oceans Apart” which he himself made. A player can indeed opt for a team other than that of his country of birth, provided that he respects various rules imposed by World Rugby, the world federation.And the major nations of this sport, including France, have practically all integrated, these last years, players from these three archipelagos.
Dscattered over several hundred islandsthose countries are experiencing serious economic and social difficulties. Tonga, with an estimated population of 105 000 inhabitants, have – according to the International Monetary Fund – one of the lowest GDPs on the planet. And in these three Pacific nations, rugby represents a way out. Their robust and talented rugby players aspire in particular to play in Europe where the salaries paid allow them to support their families. Et andThey also know that the conditions offered by the national selections of the rich countries prove to be much more advantageous. A reason that encourages them to give up wearing the jersey of their country of origin.
For several decades, Australia and New Zealand have benefited from this high quality breeding ground. Samoan or Tongan immigration is For example very strong in New Zealand and many players from these communities wear the All Blacks jersey, like the late rugby legend Jonah Lomu. Other countries have taken over more recently, starting with Japan, which has been able to count on the arrival of half a dozen players from the Pacific who have greatly contributed to its strong sporting progress.
Nations that weigh little
Dan Leo has becomeu the figurehead of the defense of these rugby players from the southern hemisphere. He founded the Pacific Rugby Players Welfare (PRPW) association which helps players from these three nations. This one advance the figure of 600 members, mainly professional players playing in Europe. Not all are pampered rookies playing in posh clubs, and some players struggle to enforce their rights against negligent or dishonest managers.
The former Samoan third line, who notably played in France for Bordeaux and Perpignan, is also fighting against the international bodies that manage rugby. He ofcalls for more means for the nations of the Pacific and denounces their under-representation in the Council of World Rugby, supreme authority of this sport : only Fiji and Samoa y are rehereehs, et and of totaliseonly two votes, while the most influential members have three each. A system of governance thataccording to PRPW, allow wealthier nations to prioritize their interests at the expense of smaller nations.
First Person: James Nokise | Like most Samoans growing up in Aotearoa New Zealand, I was in awe of Michael Jones, cheered on Inga Tuigamala, didn’t realise Frank Bunce was Niuean, and tried to convince people Jonah was my cousin, despite him being Tongan.https://t.co/8shLS6XknT
— RNZ (@radionz) February 11, 2023
“Dan tackled all of these issues when many others were unwilling or unable to. He was vocal and brave,” says James Nokise. This New Zealander of Samoan and Welsh origin is an actor, writer and podcaster all rolled into one. And he has just produced the podcast “Fair Game: Pacific rugby against the world”, in collaboration with former New Zealand player John Daniell, who became a journalist after his professional career. “The goal is to explain the situation of these players”, underlines James Nokise, by helping the supporters of the northern hemisphere “to better know these players whom they encourage” each weekend.
Insufficient preparation
Over the course of the episodes of this very rich podcast, James Nokise and John Daniell give the floor to various players in rugby from the Pacific Islands and expose the difficulties they face. During his career in New Zealand and the nine seasons he spent with three French clubs, John Daniell rubbed shoulders with many Samoan, Tongan and Fijian players. He discovered their exceptional cultures and the difficulty for them to be able to reconcile their club careers andt in the national team.
“These Pacific nations are experiencing an exceptional situation for several reasons, starting with their geographical remoteness. But the greatest injustice that strikes them is this story of votes within the Council”, explains John Daniell in perfect French. For him, the powerful nations defend their own interests and do not allow them to fully integrate the world of professional rugby. It highlights in particular the international calendars : while France have faced the best teams in the world many times between the 2019 World Cup and the next one, Samoa, currently 11e world ranking nation, only faced each otheres during these four years only to one top team 10, Italy. Tonga, au 15e rangexperienced a similar scenario, while Fiji (13es) fared better as they faced Ireland and Scotland last fall.
“I think it’s become clear that what separates the great nations from the nations of the Pacific, aside from money and means, is the time they can spend together as a team.” James Nokise, who insists on the difficulty of bringing together players spread all over the world. Less prepared, these teams lack cohesion and fail to express their full potential at the World Cups, even if Fiji and Samoa have both already managed to play two quarter-finals since the first edition of this competition in 1987.
Les stars des Flying Fijians
To help them improve, World Rugby has notably promoted the creation of two franchises involved in Super Rugby, the professional competition in the hemisphere which sees Australian, South African and New Zealand franchises compete. Moana Pasifika brings together Tongan, Samoan and New Zealand players while Fijian Drua only field Fijians who spend the whole season together. But the latter does not count on the stars of the Flying Fijians like Semi Radradra or Josua Tuisova, who play in England and France respectively.
World Rugby justified the financing of this project by the desire “toraise the level of competitiveness of rugby throughout the world and more particularly with a view to the Rugby World Cups”. Faced with his detractors, the governing body of rugby ensures to act in favor of these teams from the Pacific, while underlining the difficulty of advancing due to the lack of effective structures in these countries. Cases of embezzlement within the local federations have been relayed by the players themselves who have repeatedly denounced the squandering of the allocated budgets. Mismanagement which, according to John Daniell, cannot justify limiting the financial support given to these islands. “It’s far too easy to say that they have not managed this funding well and that we can no longer trust them. It drives me crazy given what we have seen recently elsewhere, in France for example”, he says, referring to the recent conviction for corruption of the former president of the French Rugby Federation.
Debate on the operation of these Pacific federations will not fail to resurface as the 2023 Rugby World Cup approaches. On the ground, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, who are in three different pools, hope to reach the phases finals of this competition, which they have not done since the 2007 edition. The Fijians then managed to dismiss Wales and lost in the quarter against the Springboks, future winners of this edition already organized in France. A performance that these brilliant players, Olympic rugby sevens champions in Rio and Tokyo, intend to repeat in France.
20 teams for a title
The 2023 World Cup, which will take place from September 8 to October 28 in ten French cities, will see 20 selections divided into four groups competing for the world title. France 24 offers you, between now and the kick-off of this major sporting event, a series of articles on the teams in the running. With a publication the “XV” of each month.
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