NZ sanctions anger Fiji chairman

Fiji says it will officially complain to the International Rugby Board over New Zealand travel sanctions which prevent its rugby union chairman attending the World Cup.

FRU chairman Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga has been refused a visa to accompany the Fiji team to New Zealand for the World Cup. Members of the Fiji military are banned from New Zealand under sanctions imposed since a 2006 military-led coup.

Tikoitoga is the head of Fiji’s land forces.

He told the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation “if they (New Zealand) want to mix politics and sports then they must make it clear to the IRB and they should not be holding international tournaments.”

SAPA-AP