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'We are not breeding poofters and weaklings here… we must f*** them up'

(Photo by Getty Images)

The Pacific Rugby Players Welfare (PRPW) organisation has wasted little time in putting pressure on World Rugby’s re-elected chairman, Bill Beaumont, in a second letter calling for “urgent enquiries on the status of the investigation” into the conduct of Fiji rugby union’s chairman, Francis Kean, following his alleged abusive and homophobic comments. Kean recently stood down from the World Rugby council after a recording emerged, seemingly of the official in his role in charge of Fiji’s prison service saying, “We are not breeding poofters and weaklings here… we must f*** them up.” He remains chairman of the Fiji rugby union.

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In the letter following the Sunday Times story, PRPW director Dan Leo wrote: “I note that, although it is more than two weeks since an investigation was first promised to the media, at the time of writing this letter no request has yet been received by the Sunday Times from WR (World Rugby) for a copy or transcript of the Kean recording or any other material generated in support of the April 19 report.”

While World Rugby have no fit-and-proper-person test for anyone standing as a union official, PRPW have identified World Rugby regulation 20.4 (c) in relation to misconduct which refers to “acts or statements that are discriminatory by reason of sexual orientation”.

Video Spacer

Re-elected World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont guests on the latest edition of The Rugby Pod

Video Spacer

Re-elected World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont guests on the latest edition of The Rugby Pod

The letter is signed by Leo on behalf of PRPW. One of its board members is former Fijian international Josh Matavesi. He told RugbyPass: “I don’t know what (Kean) adds to the FRU. I’m embarrassed by his comments. As a Fijian, I know how hard the team has worked in the last decade to pride itself on the morals and values that it holds. It undermines what we’re all about. It undermines the coaches, all the things that we talk about.”

Matavesi continued: “Any gay or lesbian person in Fiji, I ask them to take no notice. It’s one very small-minded person. For him to say that it shows he’s not fit for the role. I’m sure if anyone from the RFU said that, they would soon be gone. I’ve got kids. For people in Fiji, for a kid to pick up the news and read these comments – and let’s say they might be going through a tough time but they like their rugby – you have just completed eroded any chance to bring people out of their shells and any chance to bring them into rugby.”

In January, Lord Robert Hayward was recognised by the Rugby Union Writers’ Club for his role as founding chairman of the Kings Cross Steelers, the world’s first gay and inclusive rugby team. Lord Hayward is also secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Group in the UK for rugby union.

He said: “The alleged comments attributed to Francis Kean are unacceptable. If World Rugby are to stand by the game’s values and moreover their own regulations, we need more clarity about the undertaking of their investigation and any subsequent steps. Taking swift and appropriate action against anti-LGBT remarks is what everyone in rugby should expect of those in the highest office of the game. I welcome Dan Leo’s pursuit of this matter.”

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If Leo and PRPW can prompt swift action from World Rugby in investigating Kean, what is their aim? Matavesi said: “I don’t think he’s fit for the job. For the players who want to play, I just want the best for the next generation. With it being run like this, I feel very sorry for the next generation of rugby players coming through.”

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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