Fiji director of rugby sacked after ‘gay problem’ comment

The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) sacked former women’s captain Laijipa Naulivou four days into her job as Director of Rugby after she said the women’s game had a “gay problem”.

Naulivou, the first captain of Fiji’s national women’s team, told the Fiji Sun newspaper this week that she was against gay women in rugby and said they should be excluded if the team was “affected” by them.

“Those who played with me know that I do not condone being gay for women in rugby,” the paper quoted her as saying.

“I always speak against it and I know I’m very unpopular in that area with those who practise it.”

Naulivou cited an old report given to her by former Fiji test player Pio Bosco Tikoisuva, the FRU boss in the early-2000s, that said lesbianism was a problem in European women’s rugby.

“Retention of players and this gay problem were the two main problems that these European rugby countries had in their report and Fiji is no exception in that area, too,” she said.

FRU said in a statement it had terminated Naulivou’s position.

“While she had tendered her resignation, the Board determined that a firm stance was necessary to reinforce its commitment to upholding professional standards and safeguarding the integrity of Fiji Rugby,” the statement said.

“FRU categorically rejects any form of discrimination.”

The Wallaroos are set to play against Fijiana in Fiji on May 3 ahead of the Pacific Four Series matches against the Black Ferns USA and Canada in Newcastle, Canberra and Brisbane respectively.

Those internationals all build up to the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England, with the Wallaroos in Pool A alongside England, USA and Samoa.

Fijiana are in Pool B alongside Wales, Scotland and Canada.

Reuters/ABC