With one hour remaining for the Dubai 7s tournament to kickoff,

World Rugby has said from Ireland that the Dubai round of the HSBC Sevens World Series will be available to rugby fans in Fiji only via free live streaming on www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series.

In their response to Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, World Rugby said it can consider making the HSBC World Sevens feed available if the Fijian government is prepared to engage in immediate and constructive discussions with World Rugby, and to respect the exclusive nature of the Sevens Series Broadcast Rights while the discussions are ongoing.

World Rugby said if this occurs then the feed has to be for Fiji TV only as it has the exclusive rights for the HSBC World Sevens Series.

Fijivillage has also received a copy of the letter written by Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to World Rugby on December 3rd.

In his letter, Sayed-Khaiyum said the HSBC Sevens World Series had been designated as an event given that almost religious following of rugby by all Fijians throughout Fiji.

He said it is prudent to note that currently in Fiji, FBC TV has a much larger footprint or coverage area than Fiji TV and therefore, those in the rural area and outer islands that do not catch the signal of Fiji TV will be able to see the event through FBC TV.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said to ensure that all Fijians have access to the HSBC Sevens Series, it is necessary that both the Free to Air television stations share the feed of the event.

Sayed-Khaiyum also said that the government notes various correspondences from World Rugby to Fiji TV and verbal communication with the AG’s Office were the basis of contention that World Rugby did not oppose the sharing of the feed of the Gold Coast 7s.

While highlighting some correspondences, Sayed-Khaiyum also said that there were telephone conversations on the 9th and 10th of October 2014 between Tupou Baravilala of the AG’s Office and World Rugby’s Julie O’Mahoney in which it was verbally confirmed to the government that World Rugby would draft a letter to Fiji TV stating that World Rugby did not oppose the sharing of the feed and that it would not do anything to force Fiji TV to breach Fijian laws.

Sayed-Khaiyum also said that the government hopes World Rugby facilitates the request by Fiji TV, where it has also asked for the TV feed to be shared by other Free to Air broadcasters, ensuring that viewers of all Free to Air stations watch the 7s tournament.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said that the government looks forward to World Rugby’s urgent response as all Fijians are eagerly looking forward to watching the Dubai 7s and to support the Fijian team. 

In its response to Sayed-Khaiyum dated 4th December, World Rugby said it is conscious that it is the Fijian population who will be disadvantaged if the dialogue does not commence but that is entirely within the hands of the department of the Attorney General.

It also said that it notes public statements in the Fiji press that the Fiji government is hopeful of a positive outcome from discussions with World Rugby.

The world rugby governing body said to date there have been no direct discussions.

World Rugby has again said specifically there was no prior consultation with the event owners whose events were designated under the Television Cross Carriage of Designated Events Decree.

World Rugby has also asked the Fiji government to confirm if it is prepared to engage in discussions with World Rugby in relation to the scope of the designation under the law.

World Rugby further states that it would appreciate viewing the signal coverage of Fiji TV and FBC TV and specifically to review the overlap of that coverage as between these two Free to Air entities.

It said the letter World Rugby received from Fiji TV on Wednesday is at odds with prior consultations World Rugby has had with Fiji TV and therefore it would prefer to have a statistical geographic representation presented in support of the Attorney Generals point on the coverage of the two TV stations.

We are still trying to speak to the Attorney General. He is yet to comment.

Stay with us for developments.