The NZ Government is confident that no members of the Fiji military will be part of Fiji rugby team to play the All Blacks in Dunedin next Friday.

Under sanctions imposed against Fiji, any members of the military and their families are banned from entering New Zealand.

Fiji has reduced its 50 member training squad to 35 and it includes army officer and lock Leone Nakarawa.

A spokesman for the Foreign Minister Murray McCully has told stuff.co that they have had assurances that no banned players will be on the list going to NZ next week.

Speaking from Rarotonga, McCully said the NZ Government had been working with Fijian officials on the issue.

McCulley said he was advised that the Fijian management had assured them that all of those whose names were being submitted would comply with NZ’s requirements.

And the New Zealand Rugby Union is adamant that lock Nakarawa won’t be coming to New Zealand.

The NZRU’s understanding is that while Nakarawa is still part of the wider World Cup squad that is yet to be trimmed, he isn’t listed among the Fijian players they have been told will form the touring mix for the one-off test in Dunedin.

Flying Fijians Manager Talemo Waqa had said yesterday that they are liaising with the IRB to ensure that Nakarawa represents Fiji at the Rugby World Cup in NZ starting in September.


Story by: Vijay Narayan