Pacific warriors are fighting a lopsided battle

at the time of 2019 edition of the World Cup“42 Players from the Pacific Ocean who have played for nations other than their own.” The figure was provided by Daniel Liu, former captain of the Samoan team, In the documentary “Oceans Apart” Which he himself did. A player can actually choose a team other than his country of origin, provided that he respects the various rules imposed by World Rugby, the global federation. And the major countries of this sport, including France, are practically all integratedAnd In the last yearsAnd Players from these three archipelagos.

DrScattered over several hundred islandsthese countries Experiencing serious economic and social hardships. Tonga, with an estimated population of 105 000 Its population is – according to the International Monetary Fund – one of the lowest GDPs on the planet. And in the Three Pacific Nations, rugby is a way out. Especially strong and talented rugby players aspire to play in Europe where the salaries allow them to support their families. And meThey also know that the terms offered by rich countries’ national choices prove more beneficial. reason to encourage them To give up wearing their country of origin shirt.

For several decades, Australia and New Zealand have benefited from this fertile, high-quality land. Samoan or Tongan immigration for example very strong In New Zealand many players from these communities wear an All Blacks jersey, such as Late rugby legend Jonah Lomo. Other countries have taken over recently, starting with Japan, which has been able to count on the arrival of half a dozen players from the Pacific Ocean who have made a significant contribution. For his strong athletic progress.

Countries that weigh little

Become Dan Liua A defense symbol for these rugby players from the southern hemisphere. He founded the Pacific Rugby Players Welfare Association (PRPW), which assists players from these three countries. this The number advances to 600 Members, particularly professional players who play in Europe. Not all spoiled juniors play in fancy clubsAnd Some players struggle to enforce their rights against negligent or dishonest managers.

The former Samoan third line, who notably played in France with Bordeaux and Perpignan, is also fighting against the international bodies that run rugby. he toCalls for more means for the Pacific nations and condemns their underrepresentation in the Pacific Ocean the The World Rugby Board, the supreme authority for the sport : Only Fiji and Samoa there We are DrPresentHs, And no sumHOnly two votesAnd While the most influential members three each. regime thataccording to PRPW, Allow Wealthier countries to prioritize their interests at the expense of smaller countries.

“Dan dealt with all of these issues when many were unwilling or unable to. He was vocal and brave,” says James Nokes. This New Zealander of Samoan and Welsh descent is an actor, writer, and podcaster rolled into one. And he just realized 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 aim is to explain the situation of these players,” emphasizes James Nokesi, by helping Northern Hemisphere fans “to get to know better who these players are that they support” every weekend.

Insufficient preparation

Over the course of episodes of this very rich podcast, James Nokesi and John Daniell have given the floor to many Pacific Islander rugby players and revealed their struggles. During his career in New Zealand and his nine seasons with three French clubs, John Daniel rubbed shoulders with several Samoan, Tongan and Fiji players. Discover their exceptional cultures and the difficulty they face juggling their club careers andYou in the national team.

“These countries in the Pacific Ocean are in an exceptional situation for several reasons, starting with their geographical remoteness. But the greatest injustice inflicted on them is the story of the vote within the Council,” Jean-Daniel explains in perfect French. For him, powerful countries stand up for their own interests and do not allow them to fully integrate into the world of professional rugby. It especially highlights international calendars : While France faced the best teams in the world several times between the 2019 World Cup and the upcoming Samoa, currently 11^H The world ranking nation, just facing each otherHDuring these four years only for one big team 10, Italy. tonga, in 15^H rankwitnessed a similar scenario, while Fiji (13^{We are}They did better when they faced Ireland and Scotland last fall.

“I think it’s becoming clear that what separates the great nations and nations of the Pacific, apart from money and means, is the time they can spend together as a team.” James Nokesi, who insists that getting players together is difficult. all over the world. Less prepared, these teams lack cohesion and fail to express their full potential at the World Cup, even if both Fiji and Samoa have already managed to play the quarter-finals since the first edition of this competition. in 1987.

Fijian Aviation Stars

To help them improve, World Rugby notably encouraged the creation of two franchises participating in Super Rugby, the professional competition in the hemisphere in which the Australian, South African and New Zealand franchises compete. Moana Pasifika combines Tongan, Samoan and New Zealand players while Fijian Drua plays just the Fijians who spend the entire season together. But the latter is not based on Flying Fijians stars like Semi Radradra or Josua TuisovaAnd who play in England and France respectively.

the world justify the financing of this project by willraising the level of competitiveness of rugby around the world and more specifically with the aim of the Rugby World Cup.” In confronting his critics, Rugby’s governing body guarantees to work for these teams from the Pacific, emphasizing the difficulty in progression due to the lack of effective structures in these countries. Cases of embezzlement within local associations have been reported by the same players who have repeatedly denounced the squandering of allocated budgets. mismanagement which, according to John Daniell, could not justify a reduction in the financial support given to these islands. “It’s very easy to say that they haven’t managed this funding well and that we can no longer trust them. And it drives me crazy given what we’ve seen recently elsewhere, in France for example,” he says, referring to the latest report. Conviction of corruption of the former president of the French Rugby Union.

debate on The run of these confederations in the Pacific will not fail to reappear as the 2023 Rugby World Cup approaches. On the ground, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, who are in three different groups, will be hoping to reach the final stages of this competition, which they have not done since the 2007 edition. The Fijians then managed to knock out Wales, losing in the quarter-finals against springboksThe future winners of this edition are already staged in France. A performance these illustrious players, Olympic rugby champions in Rio and Tokyo, intend to repeat in France.