Fiji rugby coach quits

Press, 31 March 1989, Page 40

Fiji rugby coach quits

NZPA Suva The Fiji rugby coach, Ilaitia Tuisese, resigned yesterday over Fiji having to play its South Pacific Championship matches on Sundays. Fiji does not allow sporting activities on Sundays in line with the coup leader, Sitiveni Rabuka’s religious beliefs, but that is not the reason why he is quitting.

The former sevens and national team captain who is a Methodist lay preacher said he would be compromising his religious beliefs if he coached Fiji. “I cannot teach my children one thing and do the, opposite,” Tuisese said.

He said that he had thought long and hard about the decision and was ultimately convinced he should stand down and allow the players a coach who would be thoroughly committed to the championship. Tuisese, a lock forward, led the Fiji sevens team to victory in 1977 when it beat Marlborough in the final of the Hong Kong event. In the same year he played on the Fiji team which beat the British Lions in Suva in a thrilling match. He has coached and played on Sundays while with the sevens team in Hong Kong and in Argentina in 1980. But since then he has changed his values and principles. “I have since stopped drinking and I have redirected my life to a certain goal. I cannot aim for that goal by contradicting myself and my beliefs. “My children rely on me and my family believes in me. I cannot betray their trust just because I love rugby,” Tuisese said. Tuisese now has something in common with the All Black flanker, Michael Jones, who for similar reasons refuses to play on Sundays. There was speculation, however, that Tuisese resigned for other reasons. The former Fiji colts captain and Suva coach Senitiki Biaukula, was appointed as Tuisese’s successor later yesterday.