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Convicted rapist allowed play while serving sentence

Amenoni Nasilasila of Fiji breaks away from the defence in the match against New Zealand during day two of the 2018 Sydney Sevens at Allianz Stadium on January 27, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Fijian rugby authorities are expected to face pressure to explain why Former Fiji 7s player Amenoni Nasilasila was taking part in the Skipper Cup competition for Namosi against Tailevu at the weekend despite still serving a sentence for rape.

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He was jailed for eight years in 2019 for raping a 24-year-old woman at Olosara, Sigatoka on 22 December, 2018.Nasilasila is serving his sentence at the Naboro Corrections Centre, and the Fiji Times reported that he started the match at fly half and finished off at fullback.

The 30-year-old’s cousin is Lote Tuqiri the dual Australian rugby international and made his Fiji 7s debut at the 2014 Dubai Sevens scoring a try in the 54-7 win over France but did not make the Fiji squad that won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

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There was widespread condemnation of Nasilasila’s previous inclusion at a local tournament in February with Fijian human rights advocate Shamima Ali then calling then for the “immediate withdrawal” of Nasilasila from the Wardens team, saying it was “beyond belief” that he was allowed to represent the government department.

She added: “He is a convicted rapist and it is beyond belief that the Fiji Corrections Service has allowed him to play in the Wardens side – he is not a warden, he is an inmate.”

However, despite the anger and negative publicity generated by that decision earlier the year, the player has once again been allowed to take part in an important domestic rugby competition.

World Rugby responded to his previous appearance making it clear the game’s governing body did not not condone any person convicted of a serious crime and currently serving their sentence undertaking any official rugby activities under Union jurisdiction.

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In September 2021, Nasilasila appealed against his conviction and filed a bail pending appeal application which was also refused by Acting Resident Judge, Justice Chandana Prematilaka.

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S
SK 19 minutes ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.

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J
JW 5 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Yep, no one knows what will happen. Thing is I think (this is me arguing a point here not a random debate with this one) they're better off trialing it now in a controlled environment than waiting to open it up in a knee jerk style reaction to a crumbling organtization and team. They can always stop it again.


The principle idea is that why would players leave just because the door is ajar?


BBBR decides to go but is not good enough to retain the jersey after doing it. NZ no longer need to do what I suggest by paying him to get back upto speed. That is solely a concept of a body that needs to do what I call pick and stick wth players. NZR can't hold onto everyone so they have to choose their BBBRs and if that player comes back from a sabbatical under par it's a priority to get him upto speed as fast as possible because half of his competition has been let go overseas because they can't hold onto them all. Changing eligibility removes that dilemma, if a BBBR isn't playing well you can be assured that someone else is (well the idea is that you can be more assured than if you only selected from domestic players).


So if someone decides they want to go overseas, they better do it with an org than is going to help improve them, otherwise theyre still basically as ineligible as if they would have been scorning a NZ Super side that would have given them the best chance to be an All Black.

147 Go to comments
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