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‘Ridiculous’: Stars blast Super Rugby for Fijian Drua’s luggage truck road trip farce
By Iain Payten and Darren Walton
Leading Fijian rugby stars have blasted Super Rugby over the “unacceptable” treatment of the Fijian Drua on a recent road trip from hell to New Zealand, which included the team getting a late-night lift in a luggage truck.
In farcical scenes reminiscent of the 1987 film Planes, Trains and Automobiles, the Drua had to negotiate a drama-filled trip two weeks ago when the Fijian franchise travelled to play the Hurricanes in Napier, in round two of Super Rugby Pacific.
After landing in Auckland near midnight, players and team management arrived to find the bus booked by Super Rugby organisers to transport the team to a hotel was nowhere to be seen. Subsequent calls found the booking had been cancelled due to a mistake by the bus company, according to sources familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to speak freely.
Late at night and lacking options to get to a nearby hotel, the Drua squad piled into the back of a truck booked to transport the team’s luggage and equipment.
Fijian Drua players in the back of a luggage truck on their trip to New Zealand.
The travel issues didn’t stop there, however. The Drua shared a hotel in Napier with their hosts, the Hurricanes, but were told they could not get a late check-out on Saturday ahead of the 4pm game, due to the town also hosting a major triathlon that weekend. It left the Drua using alternate arrangements for several hours.
According to informed sources, however, the Drua later learned the Hurricanes did not have to check out at the same time and stayed at the hotel until just before the 4pm kickoff.
When warming up at McLean Park, Fiji players and management were then miffed to see family and friends, some elderly, had been given tickets for the game by the Hurricanes on a grass hill behind the posts. Super Rugby clubs provide 70 tickets for the visiting team under competition regulations.
The Hurricanes won the game 38-34 and Drua coach Glenn Jackson hinted at the preparation issues post-game.
Fijian Drua players huddle before the round two Super Rugby Pacific match between Hurricanes and Fijian Drua at McLean Park.Credit: Getty Images
Fijian Drua management subsequently wrote to Super Rugby chief executive Jack Mesley to highlight the issues encountered, and SRP launched an investigation.
“Super Rugby Pacific management reviewed a number of logistical issues that arose during the Fijian Drua’s trip to Napier to face the Hurricanes in Round 2,” Mesley said via a statement.
“Several oversights and breakdowns in communication were identified which unfortunately created additional challenges for the Drua. Those issues have now been addressed with the clubs and an external transport provider.
“While it is disappointing to have these issues arise in our competition, it has given us the opportunity to assess and refine our team travel processes moving forward.”
Junior Ratuva of the Fijian Drua scores a try against the Hurricanes.Credit: Getty Images
Informed sources with knowledge of the matter said while many Drua players shrugged off the inconveniences, others at the Fijian franchise were fed up and questioned whether an Australian or New Zealand Super Rugby side would encounter the same problems.
“It’s ridiculous,” Fijian-raised Wallabies star Lote Tuqiri said.
“You’d think the organisers would have it sorted, given how old the competition is. It’s not like a new competition. It was probably not meant but, I mean, it’s actually unacceptable.
“You can’t expect a team to be treated that way. They’re not an under-11s or under-12s team who have put funds together. They’re a professional outfit and they should be treated accordingly.
“You can’t have blokes walking around on game day, sitting in parks, lying down in the lobby and this, that and the other. It’s an unfair playing field. Getting in at 12 at night, the bus not being there ... it’s just ridiculous. It surely can’t happen again.”
Former Fiji, Waratahs and Crusaders winger Nemani Nadolo was also stunned after learning of the Drua’s experiences via this masthead’s report.
“How is this even happening? What frustrates me the most is that after a long flight, the team arrives at the airport only to find that their bus is nowhere to be seen. Instead of waiting another three hours for it to arrive, the boys jump in the back of a truck to get to the hotel,” Nadolo posted on social media.
“Every time a Super Rugby franchise visits Fiji, they’re treated like royalty, with police escorts and top-tier hospitality. Can you imagine an Australian or New Zealand team ever being put through something like this?”
Fijian Drua officials declined to comment on their trip but said in a statement the club was satisfied with the SRP review.
“The Drua have gone through the right channels in a respectful way and are now satisfied that issues have been acknowledged and learnt from,” Drua general manager Baden Stephenson said.
This masthead has also learned Super Rugby Pacific bosses also spoke to New Zealand broadcaster Sky Sports after Fijian Drua players in the same game were misidentified, or had their names mispronounced.
with AAP