There are indications that the women’s Fijiana 7s team slept on benches outside the Sydney airport on their way to the Dubai Sevens in December last year, while the men’s 7s team slept at the Ibis Airport Hotel.
FRU Chairman of the Board of Trustees Peter Mazey told Mai TV, just as the story was going to press, that he is immediately investigating and will respond once he hears back from the Fijiana 7s management.
Mai TV has acquired photos confirmed by a number of the players of them sleeping on the benches while waiting for their flight to Dubai.
The men’s and women’s teams were on the same flight to Sydney, but Mai TV understands that while the men’s team was billeted at the Ibis Sydney Hotel, the women had nowhere to go.
The photos show the women curled up on the benches with some covering themselves with scarves to fend off the cold Sydney night. One of the players can be seen covering herself with a Fiji Airways blanket.
The women braved it out on the benches outside from 11 pm to 4 am while waiting to catch their connecting flight to Dubai for the HSBC 7s series which was held from 2-3 December.
Earlier this week, Speaker of the House of Representatives Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu aired his concern about witnessing the men’s 7s team sleeping on the floors of the airport.
In response, Fiji Rugby Union stated that the accommodation arrangements for the men’s 7s team was handled by World Rugby and their investigation found the men’s team was provided appropriate rest by being billeted at the IBIS.
No mention was made of the Fijiana 7s team accommodation from the FRU and queries sent to FRU Administrator Simi Valenitabua today were directed to Trustee Chairman Peter Mazey.
“Please email Peter Mazey. FRU has answered via press release.”
But the FRU press release had made no mention of the women. Mazey sent Mai TV a viber message that he was investigating just as the story was being published.
