New Zealand has no intention of using the World Cup as an excuse to relax sanctions applied against Fiji.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully said that there is not going to be a change in policy in New Zealand and that he has informed the IRB that the sanctions will stay.

The International Rugby Board said it will continue to press New Zealand to relax the travel ban during the competition.

McCully said they do not want to have limitations on who can get into New Zealand affecting the character of the teams, but they also understand that who is able to enter New Zealand is a matter for the New Zealand Government and that has never been contested.

However McCully said that a way forward could be found, despite telling the new chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union, Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga, that “banned meant banned”.

IRB chief executive Mike Miller said that “if people talk quietly behind the scenes” it was possible the issue of sanctions could be resolved.
 

Story by: Selina Navuso
[Source: nzherald]