Latest news with #LaijipaNaulivou
Reuters
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Fiji Director of Rugby sacked after 'gay problem' comment
Feb 7 (Reuters) - The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) sacked former women's captain Laijipa Naulivou four days into her job as Director of Rugby after she said the women's game had a "gay problem". Naulivou, the first captain of Fiji's national women's team, told the Fiji Sun newspaper this week that she was against gay women in rugby and said they should be excluded if the team was "affected" by them. "Those who played with me know that I do not condone being gay for women in rugby," the paper quoted her as saying. "I always speak against it and I know I'm very unpopular in that area with those who practise it." Naulivou cited an old report given to her by former Fiji test player Pio Bosco Tikoisuva, the FRU boss in the early-2000s, that said lesbianism was a problem in European women's rugby. "Retention of players and this gay problem were the two main problems that these European rugby countries had in their report and Fiji is no exception in that area, too," she said. FRU said in a statement it had terminated Naulivou's position. "While she had tendered her resignation, the Board determined that a firm stance was necessary to reinforce its commitment to upholding professional standards and safeguarding the integrity of Fiji Rugby," the statement said. "FRU categorically rejects any form of discrimination."
The Independent
06-02-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Fiji director of rugby fired for claiming there is a 'gay problem' in women's team
The director of rugby at the Fiji Rugby Union has been fired just four days into her new role after stating that women's national team had a 'gay problem'. Laijipa Naulivou was given the role last Saturday but, on Wednesday, the FRU released a statement saying they had terminated her appointment in the interest of reinforcing a 'commitment to upholding professional standards and safeguarding the integrity of Fiji Rugby.' At the Paris Olympics last summer, Fiji's women's sevens team were knocked out in the group stage, placing last among the 12 sides competing in the tournament, despite having won bronze in Tokyo three years prior and reaching the podium again being their stated aim. In an interview with The Fiji Sun, Naulivou said alleged rifts related to sexuality were to blame for the poor performance and criticised the coach, saying she previously recommended her removal and asked for a panel be set up to select the team instead of 'a person who practices lesbianism being up there and choosing her people.' Naulivou claimed 'it is unethical and it's not right' before citing struggles with player retention and 'this gay problem' as the main challenges facing European rugby teams as well. She also added that homosexuality was 'one big drawback' when the Fiji women's team participated in previous global sevens tournaments. The FRU moved quickly to terminate Naulivou's contract with immediate effect, explaining they do not share her views and categorically reject all forms of discrimination. 'Our women's team and all players can rest assured that this will in no way impact their opportunities, representation, and continued development as integral members of Fiji Rugby,' said the FRU statement. '[The] FRU remains steadfast in ensuring a supportive, inclusive, and empowering environment for all the Fiji Rugby Vuvale, regardless of gender, background, or identity. A new appointment will be made in due course through a rigorous and transparent selection process." Fiji Women's Rights Movement said it was 'appalled' by Naulivou's remarks, with Nalini Singh, the group's executive director releasing a statement. 'The notion that being gay is a 'problem' in women's rugby is deeply troubling and perpetuates harmful stereotypes that have no place in modern sports or society,' she said. 'Rather than focusing your efforts on the sexuality of the players, you do your job and look for adequate funding and provide for the well-being of the women rugby players so that they don't have to sleep on benches in front of airports and walk miles to their training.' Naulivou is a well-known figure within Fijian rugby circles, having been the first captain of the women's national side in her playing days and being a strong advocate for gender equality in the typically male-dominated sport. She tried to tender her resignation following widespread backlash to the interview but the FRU insisted on firing her instead.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Fiji rugby director sacked after four days over women's team ‘gay problem' claim
The Fiji Rugby Union's director of rugby has been sacked just four days into her new role after saying the women's team had a 'gay problem.' Laijipa Naulivou was appointed to the top position last Saturday but came under fire for comments that 'lesbianism' had caused a rift in the Fiji women's team which led to the side's poor performance at last year's Paris Olympics. Fiji won a bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but at last summer's Games fell dramatically short in their aim of reaching the podium after being knocked out in the group stage. The Pacific Islanders placed last among the 12 competing nations. In an interview with the Fiji Sun after the FRU announced her appointment, Naulivou said she had previously asked for the head coach of the women's side to be removed and for a panel to be set up to select the women's team instead of 'a person who practices lesbianism being up there and choosing her people. To me that is unethical and it's not right.' She also controversially claimed that player same-sex relationships was 'one big drawback' when the Fiji women's team participated in a previous sevens tournament and claimed 'this gay problem' was impacting player retention across other European nations. The FRU announced on Wednesday it had terminated Naulivou's contract with immediate effect, adding the union did not share her views and that it categorically rejected all forms of discrimination. 'Our women's team and all players can rest assured that this will in no way impact their opportunities, representation, and continued development as integral members of Fiji Rugby,' said the FRU. '[The] FRU remains steadfast in ensuring a supportive, inclusive, and empowering environment for all the Fiji Rugby Vuvale, regardless of gender, background, or identity.' Fiji Women's Rights Movement said it was 'appalled' by Naulivou's remarks. 'The notion that being gay is a 'problem' in women's rugby is deeply troubling and perpetuates harmful stereotypes that have no place in modern sports or society,' said Nalini Singh, the group's executive director, who also referenced local media reports that claimed the women's team spent a night on benches outside Sydney Airport on their way to the Dubai Sevens tournament in 2023, while the men's team slept in a nearby hotel. 'Rather than focusing your efforts on the sexuality of the players, you do your job and look for adequate funding and provide for the well-being of the women rugby players so that they don't have to sleep on benches in front of airports and walk miles to their training,' she added. Naulivou is a prominent figure on the Fiji rugby scene, having been the first captain of the women's national side and a fierce advocate for gender inclusion in the male-dominated sport. The FRU confirmed she had tried to tender her resignation following widespread backlash to her incendiary comments but decided that a 'firm stance was necessary to reinforce its commitment to upholding professional standards and safeguarding the integrity of Fiji Rugby' which led to her dismissal. The union added it was undertaking a 'rigorous and transparent selection process' to appoint a new director of rugby. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Associated Press
06-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Top Fiji rugby official fired for her comments about ‘gay problem' in women's national teams
SUVA, Fiji (AP) — A top rugby official in Fiji was fired within days of being appointed after she spoke of 'this gay problem' in women's national teams. Laijipa Naulivou resigned as director of rugby before her appointment was cancelled by the Fiji Rugby Union to reinforce a 'commitment to upholding professional standards and safeguarding the integrity of Fiji Rugby.' The FRU added on Wednesday it 'categorically rejects any form of discrimination.' Naulivou, the first captain of the Fiji women's team, said in an interview published by the Fiji Sun 'those who played with me know that I do not condone being gay for women in rugby.' 'I always speak against it and I know I'm very unpopular in that area with those who practice it,' she said, later referring to 'this gay problem' as one of the issues for rugby in Fiji. The report cited alleged rifts related to sexuality in the women's sevens squad as a reason for results at the Paris Olympics last year. Three years after taking bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, Fiji lost all five games and placed 12th and last in Paris. 'The views expressed by Laijipa Naulivou are her personal opinions and do not reflect the official position of FRU,' the union said. 'Our women's team and all players can rest assured that this will in no way impact their opportunities, representation, and continued development as integral members of Fiji Rugby. 'FRU strongly promotes inclusion and non-discrimination as fundamental principles of the sport,' it said. 'A new appointment will be made in due course through a rigorous and transparent selection process.'
