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FRU faces gravest crisis in its 100-year-history after International Rugby Board suspends the FRU’s annual $3.3 million development grant with Bainimarama deepening crisis further by rejecting the FRU Board’s preferred candidate for vacant CEO post

9/1/2014

22 Comments

 
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The FRU Board’s selection process – led by USP academic Dr Esther Williams – had confirmed former Teivovo publisher Jeremy Duxbury as their preferred candidate from the four applicants. But when the name was submitted just before Christmas, Bainimarama angrily rejected Duxbury’s selection



That led to a Boxing Day phone call from the Prime Minister’s Office to VitiFM broadcaster Malakai Veisamasama in which he was effectively offered the job by the PM’s permanent secretary. Veisamasama played down the story without formally denying
any element of it, when talking to the Fiji Sun:
"I haven’t been approached … am I part of the latest rumour?”


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By VICTOR LAL
Fijileaks Investigative Team

Why the country’s rugby administration is so short of funds?

The Fiji Rugby Union – commandeered by Frank Bainimarama’s administration in the lead-in to the 2011 Rugby World Cup – is facing its gravest crisis in the body’s 100-year history after the International Rugby Board suspended the FRU’s annual £1million development grant with Bainimarama deepening the crisis further by rejecting the FRU board’s preferred candidate for the vacant position of chief executive officer leaving the organisation completely leaderless.

The FRU is expected to confirm to local media later this week widely circulating reports that the IRB has sent through a stop-notice on funding –a first crucial instalment had been due to be paid out on January 1 – until a number of serious governance issues have been addressed. The IRB’s demands include the FRU appointing an unnamed executive director, answerable only to the IRB, but paid for from FRU funds.

The IRB’s $3.3m funding represents more than half the income that Rugby House receives each year, almost three times the amount of the just-finished sponsorship deal with Digicel. The new sponsorship deal of the popular 7s team may reach as high as $2.5m annually but still nothing close to the IRB’s contribution.

In the meantime embarrassed FRU officials have admitted they will have to re-advertise the position of CEO, re-starting a process to find the FRU’s CEO that started when the previous boss – Manasa Baravilala – was summarily sacked in September. Baravilala is the son of Doctor Jona Senilagakali, who briefly served as interim prime minister, in the days immediately after Bainimarama’s December 2006 coup.

Since Baravilala’s dismissal the FRU’s chairman – permanent secretary Finance Filimone Waqabaca - and acting CEO Dr Berlin Kafoa from the Fiji School of Medicine have shared the executive responsibilities between them while they search for a new CEO.

Waqabaca was quoted in local media on December 16 as saying ‘we want to make the announcement before December 31 2013 so the chief executive officer can start his duty all fresh in the new year and steer FRU into a new direction’. Waqabaca is now believed to be overseas.

It’s understood that in mid-December, the Board’s selection process – led by USP academic Dr Esther Williams – had confirmed former Teivovo publisher Jeremy Duxbury as their preferred candidate from the four applicants. But when the name was submitted just before Christmas, Bainimarama angrily rejected Duxbury’s selection – even though it had been endorsed by Waqabaca as well.

That led to a Boxing Day phone call from the Prime Minister’s Office to VitiFM broadcaster Malakai Veisamasama in which he was effectively offered the job by the PM’s permanent secretary. Veisamasama played down the story without formally denying any element of it, when talking to the Fiji Sun on January 9, but it’s understood the FRU will re-advertise the position to allow Veisamasama to apply if he wants to – as Veisamasama had not applied when the original adverts ran.

When Waqabaca was appointed FRU chairman last May he made clear in an interview with the Fiji Sun that he was doing the bidding of a deeply frustrated prime minister: "(Bainimarama) asked me to clean up the place and turn things around and to do my best. I suppose that would be the wish of all die-hard rugby fans in this country given the status of FRU and the performance of our national teams."

The Bainimarama government’s explicit involvement in running the FRU has been nothing short of a disaster. It dates back to January 2011 when then sports minister Filipe Bole confirmed the FRU would receive $3m of government funding for the 2011 Rugby World Cup but only the condition the elected board of the FRU resigned before the terms had expired and face new elections.

Bole’s Cabinet-backed demands followed the controversy over the running of the FRU’s Rugby World Cup lottery which ended in court action and the involvement of the Commerce Commission. Bole justified the government’s decision to the Fiji Times, ‘We simply cannot overlook issues and allegations of fraud, mismanagement, deceptive conduct and criminal liability because we, Fijians love rugby and support our Fijian team in the upcoming IRB World Cup

But Bainimarama’s power grab effectively staged another coup, not using the barrel of a gun but by withholding taxpayer funds. The nine-person FRU board that was assembled at the annual general meeting following Bole’s funding threat was chaired by then land force commander Mosese Tikoitoga who told the Fiji Sun his new board, ‘would go to any length to ensure that they satisfy Government’s demands before the $3 million funding offered for the Rugby World Cup campaign is released’.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup is widely acknowledged as being the most hopeless that Fiji has mounted in the professional era. With only one win – against the part-timer plumbers and cow-wranglers from Namibia – heavy defeats by South Africa and Samoa, and a 66-nil thrashing by Wales who Fiji had beaten at the same tournment only four years earlier.

Given all of this needless government interference and incompetence – Waqabaca being brought in to clean up the mess of the previous Tikoitoga-led rugby board - fans of Fiji rugby will perhaps now understand the context behind this week’s biggest sports story: why the country’s rugby administration is so short of funds that the immensely popular new coach of the national 7s team and former England 7s coach, Ben Ryan, started work late last year and took no salary or relocation expenses from the FRU.

He is not due to start being paid for his work – which includes leading the 7s team to a first ever win at the Dubai 7s - until his formal contract began on January 1, 2014.

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The former CEO Manasa Baravilala was summarily sacked in September 2013
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October 2012: Baravilala presented Bainimarama with a personalized Flying Fijians jersey. The presentation was done at the PM’s office in the presence of Flying Fijians Head Coach Inoke Male. In presenting the jersey Baravilala thanked Bainimarama and the Government for all their assistance given to the FRU and looked forward to Government's continuing support into the future.
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The FRU Board, led by Dr Esther William, preferred Jeremy Duxbury but angry Bainimarama rejected Duxbury's selection
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Preferred Choice: Jeremy Duxbury
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Waiting on the sidelines: VitiFM broadcaster Malakai Veisamasama
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Hole in the wallet: Ben Ryan won the Dubai Sevens with Fiji
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Fans in the dark of Bainimarama's interference in FRU affairs
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Running into FRU's affairs. The Bainimarama government’s explicit involvement in running the FRU has been nothing short of a disaster.
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22 Comments
Fiji Rugby Fan
9/1/2014 04:09:11 am

Vinaka Victor. What a cracker and flying revelation to us all in Fiji. Dictator will be buried at the finishing line, come September election, and we will take him to the Chinese funded National Stadium for him and his CEO Fiji Sports Council daughter to answer all their crimes

Reply
Attention to all commentators - No abusive comments: Fijileaks Editor
9/1/2014 04:53:46 am

Dear Commentators

We would be grateful if you can keep your comments free of abusive language including the F-word, and that applies to one Rajesh Singh in the future. Everyday we refuse to publish hundreds of comments, and that is reflected in the small number of postings. Many thanks - Editor

Reply
Rajesh
9/1/2014 01:22:20 pm

Malakai is pissed of sdl govt bec the wife didnt get the seat in 2006 election.
I was the minister in 2006 which got fiji boxing commission done with help from Tim /John Beater and Leone of fijisun and Ministry staff .
FRU is fool of politics .frank sacked serevi bec of his comments in 2006 coup refer 7s team can face ban from some countries . Fru always depended on tax payers govt funding.
FRU pay Ceo and staff big fat salaries and players get peanuts .
FRU should learn from fiji soccer on doing things in office.with low paid ceo/staff.
Rugby politics hahaha never ends .bai want to be mr fix but instead mess things up.

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Bill Carson
10/1/2014 06:06:38 am

"I was the minister..."

Actually an assistant minister who got the sack.

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Bill Carson
10/1/2014 06:09:58 am

"FRU should learn from fiji soccer ...."

I wonder what an in-depth review of Fiji soccer finances during the 25 year rule of that fugitive to NZ would reveal.

Reply
Bill Carson
10/1/2014 06:10:05 am

"FRU should learn from fiji soccer ...."

I wonder what an in-depth review of Fiji soccer finances during the 25 year rule of that fugitive to NZ would reveal.

Reply
Khan
10/1/2014 06:10:27 am

"FRU should learn from fiji soccer ...."

I wonder what an in-depth review of Fiji soccer finances during the 25 year rule of that fugitive to NZ would reveal.

Reply
Khan
10/1/2014 06:10:33 am

"FRU should learn from fiji soccer ...."

I wonder what an in-depth review of Fiji soccer finances during the 25 year rule of that fugitive to NZ would reveal.

Reply
Khan
10/1/2014 06:12:39 am

"FRU should learn from fiji soccer ...."

I wonder what an in-depth review of Fiji soccer finances during the 25 year rule of that fugitive to NZ would reveal.

Reply
frank
9/1/2014 05:43:04 pm

IRB not happy with sacking of frank boivert ,,,,FRU was the culprit in not fixing his work permit.....IRB stopped funding....HPU Manager resigned......its all a mess
How come ben ryan working with no permit but not sacked? but thanks ben!!!! frank has done a lot of grass roots work in Fiji and linked Fiji players to france which supports hundreds of families.
no credible people applied for CEO as FRU politicised and insolvent
they now selling stupid $2000 jerseys to fund operations etc........
As for FRU President funeral ,,,,very sad as most unions didn't turn up due lack of confidence in Board and FRU.....
Very Sad state!!!

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@matala_farm
9/1/2014 07:55:39 pm

CORRECTION - Jerseys were not $2000 but $5000.

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Provinces
9/1/2014 05:45:00 pm

What has Jeremy and Malakai contribution to Club and Provincial rugby??? NIL except their media write ups. What a mess to have these kinds of marginal CEO shorlists.....hopeless.

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rajesh
9/1/2014 07:03:51 pm

FRU needs to run by business people not bunch of loosers.FRU should hire a ceo from nz better .fijian politics have to cut off from fru and govt.
why couldnt fru built commercial office space and rent it out.
i gave the plan to Ceo Ratu Timoci .Plan was done by Adish Naidu .No vision mate.

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@matala_farm
9/1/2014 07:50:34 pm

Your preferred FRU CEO candidate: 1.Jeremy Duxbury; 2.Malakai Veisamasama. A choice between stupidity and hopelessness @fijirugby @LegendFM

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rugby fan
10/1/2014 01:46:54 am

Untidy beards are really ugly, please shave guys. Prefer the Ben Ryan look. Now there's a Professional.

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biswa
10/1/2014 03:06:19 am

I am surprised that Jeremy was the preferresd choice. He is a nice guy but he could not run his business and his house went on mortgagee sale.

Also, I am bit dissappointed that Victor jumps to conclusion very fast. He alludes the the lossof funding from IRB is because of the CEO, this is not true Victor.

Reply
Jeremy Duxbury
28/11/2014 07:26:39 pm

Sorry to be late in replying to this... but for the record (i) no houses of mine have ever been sold by mortgagee sale (I was once in dispute with the bank during my divorce, but it was settled amicably), and (ii) I sold Teivovo because I had plans to move back to Europe – nothing like you suggest, biswa. Vinaka. JD

Reply
tomasi
10/1/2014 03:08:47 am

Pls ban rajesh singh. He is full of shit. Also he thinks he is the only smart person on the planet.

Juloom mama

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Tagi Viti
12/1/2014 04:28:02 pm

Just as he meddles into FIJI RUGBY, Bainimarama's daughters have their wand in NETBALL FIJI after they requested from their father than an overseas Coach be brought in ASAP. Our local coach Una Rokoura has been on the job since 2008, won all PNS compertition since than, took the Fiji Team to Fast 5 for the first time in 2011...and DOES THIS WITHOUT ONE SINGLE CENT AS PAYMENT!.. and Litiana & Rubyann have thrown Unaisi under the bus by demanding from their father that, Fiji Netball be given an overseas Coach..AND YOU ALL WERE UP IN ARMS OVER BEN RYAN'S 3 MONTHS "VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT" Whats 3 months to 5 years of no pay?..

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tantrums galore
12/1/2014 05:21:16 pm

5 years of work and not a cent? Yet key junta players paid hush-hush salaries from a private firm owned by iAG's aunty. Fiji's turning out to be a real coupcoupland.

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Una Fan
12/1/2014 09:40:07 pm

Why wasn't una paid??? she should be paid and I shall lodge a complaint at the Ministry of Labour. When the pay comes I will go on a honeymoon with una not ruby ann

5metreline
13/1/2014 02:25:04 pm

Ever since the new FRU Board under Filimone Waqabaca took office FRU went into a nosedive following the removal of Kiwi HPU Manager, CEO, Finance Manager and Operations Manager. With the likes of Esther Williams, Mo Taga, Berlin Kafoa and supermarket magnate Billy Singh whose contribution to rugby has been nil, the showdown with IRB was inevitable. Frank Bainimarama is cursing the day he nominated his PS Finance to the FRU Board because of the negative IRB publicity to his government, thus forcing Filimoni to defend the government publicly. It is the Unions and players that suffer as the Board through Berlin Kafoa continue to lie and denigrade the previous board and sacked management.

Reply



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