'I can't believe it': B&I Lions block Wallaby flank from playing
NEWS: The British and Irish Lions have blocked Wallaby loose forward Pete Samu from appearing for a First Nations and Pasifika XV against them because he did not play Super Rugby this season, the visitors confirmed Friday.
Head coach Toutai Kefu told the Sydney Morning Herald he was “absolutely gutted”.
“I still can’t believe that they would do it, complain about it. I suppose it is what it is, but it’s extra motivation for our boys,” said Kefu, who played 60 times for Australia.
“We’re a team that’s just been put together, we’re facing a massive challenge as it is, so he [Samu] would have definitely strengthened us, there’s no doubt about that.
“They must have been worried we were going to win. I don’t know why they would do it.”
Kefu’s side, made up of Australians with First Nations or Pacific Island heritage, face the tourists in Melbourne on Tuesday.
The team concept came into being after the Lions’ original fixture against the Melbourne Rebels fell through when the club went into administration.
Samu was named in the squad this week, but the Lions reportedly had an issue because he played the last two years with French Top 14 side Bordeaux and only recently signed for the Waratahs.
There were no objections when the 33-Test flank played for a combined Australia-New Zealand side against the Lions last weekend in Adelaide.
The Herald said that because the original tour agreement between Rugby Australia and the Lions had the Rebels fixture in it, the need to change to an alternative team meant the contract had to be amended.
The Lions agreed, but only if they had sign-off on the First Nations and Pasifika squad put together, it added.
In a brief statement, the Lions said: “Only eligible players, as agreed by both sides as part of the tour agreement, can play in the game.”
Lions assistant coach Johnny Sexton, speaking in Brisbane ahead of the first Test on Saturday, said it was more about following the pre-tour agreements than blocking Samu.
“I don’t know if the Lions have blocked him, I think it’s more the rules and regulations of what was agreed before the tour,” he said.
“The players have played against Pete already on this tour, but it’s not for me to talk about really.”
