The Fiji Rugby Union has stressed that it does not have any personal agenda against anyone including 7s legend, Waisale Serevi.
FRU Chief Executive, Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua said those who are criticizing him and the FRU board should realize that the FRU itself wants to ensure that our National 7s team does well.
He said this whole issue should not be turned into a blame game after Fiji lost in the Hong Kong 7s.
Tavanavanua reveals that steps are being taken to ensure that the Fiji 7s team bounces back for the World Cup 7s in Dubai next March.
As the debate continues on Fiji 7s rugby on who should stay and go and the continuous call for Waisale Serevi to be brought back as a player and coach for the 7s team, the Fiji Rugby Union has finally come out and said why Serevi has not been considered for the team since the IRB 7s last year.
Speaking to Fijivillage News in an interview late yesterday, FRU Chief Executive, Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua said Serevi resigned after some serious work related issues.
We have found out that certain information was received by the FRU in relation to Serevi when he was coach and player of the Fiji 7s team and decisions were made following meetings with the 7s maestro.
Tavanavanua said the decision had to be taken by the FRU as an employer and it would be difficult to reveal the exact breaches in relation to the work matters as these issues are always confidential.
He said Serevi cannot just come back unless certain agreements and clear guidelines are set.
Tavanavanua also said that if the clear work guidelines are set and Serevi is interested to come back to assist Fiji rugby, he should ensure that he does not play again.
He said the FRU has already taken the stand that Serevi's playing days are over.
We have contacted Serevi and put these questions to him -
1. Whether he is ready to hang his boots and only coach the Fiji team?
2. What was the breach in the work related matter which resulted in his resignation?
and 3. Can he tell the people of Fiji what action that he took as coach and player of Fiji during the last IRB 7s series which was seen as a serious breach in his work agreement by the FRU?
At first he told us that he did not want to comment. However he later said that he will consider all these issues and speak to us later this morning. Stay with us for that.
Meanwhile, Digicel Fiji 7's coach Josateki Savou believes that the good old playing days of 7s wizard, Waisale Serevi is over.
Speaking to Fijivillage Sports from Adelaide, Savou said the 7's maestro still has alot to offer to the game of 7's in the country and should shift his focus in helping to develop the game.
Savou has also revealed for the first time that Serevi offered some help to the Fiji 7s team in the Hong Kong 7s during the 1/4 finals and semi-finals.
While calls have been made for Savou to step down as a coach following Fiji's poor performance in Hong Kong, he believes that he should be blamed for what happened against New Zealand in the Hong Kong 7s semi-final.
