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Jerry Tuwai and coach Ben Gollings issue statement regarding their damaging rift

Ben Gollings and double Olympic 7s Gold winner Jerry Tuwai and ready to bury the hatchet

Double Olympic gold medallist Jerry Tuwai and Fiji sevens men’s head coach Ben Gollings have issued a joint statement insisting they can work together in the build up to Fiji’s defence of their Olympic title in Paris.

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This follows a meeting between Tuwai, Gollings, and the Fiji RU Board of Trustees aimed at calming a situation that threatened to overshadow the team’s preparations for the upcoming HSBC SVNS tournaments and the Olympic challenge.

“I want to make it clear that Ben and I have always had a great understanding and respect for each other. We’ve shared memorable moments in the rugby world, and any speculation suggesting otherwise is unfounded,” Tuwai was quoted in the statement.

“We’re on good terms and I have the utmost respect for Ben Gollings as the head coach for the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team. I am enjoying my time sharing my technical expertise with the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s team and take pride in assisting the girls and coach Saiasi Fuli with their 2024 season.”

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Gollings said in the statement; “I will always standby what I’ve always thought of Jerry, a world-class player and I respect him fully for that and there are no issues between us.

“We will always respect him, and we will always support him in his endeavours of what happens in life after rugby.”

The issues started when Gollings said the World Rugby 2020 Player of the Decade must prove he is good enough by participating in local tournaments. Tuwai responded by questioning Gollings’ ability to handle the job.

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The FRU says the joint statement aims to clear up any misunderstandings and emphasises the positive relationship that exists between these two and both parties agree that there is a need to fostering positive relations and unity within the rugby community and hope that their clarification will put an end to any speculation regarding their relationship.

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S
SK 21 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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