Hard News by Russell Brown

So New Zealand would lose the entire tournament if the government banned Fiji from playing in the Wellington sevens? Really? Could we hear that from the IRB itself?

And even if it was true, then I think we've got to ask whether the IRB in effect dictates the foreign policy of the New Zealand Government. Then again, it seemed to work five years ago when Trevor Mallard brushed off criticism of the Fijian Sevens team had no problems entering New Zealand...

Oh, and to be fair, was Murray McCully hit with the same stupid stick as Mallard?

Judging from this (in the linked Herald story), it seems highly probable.

National's sport spokesman, Murray McCully, yesterday said he also understood tournament hosting rights could be lost if the Fijians were banned.

"In principle, we want to see sanctions taken on every possible front to send the strongest possible message to the illegal Fijian regime," he said.

"We are open to the idea of sanctions against the whole Fijian team as long as it doesn't end up boomeranging and causing loss of the hosting rights."

And this knob reportedly has ambitions to be Foreign Affairs Minister in the next National-led Government. Oy and vey...

Annonymous, highly-placed sources in the National party have leaked the information that McCully has a special stupid stick reserved for his own use. Like him, it's extra thick (allegedly).

So what's Mallard's fucking excuse? While we're talking about what people really thought back in '81, I understand Mallard was quite the fan of hardball cultural and sporting sanctions back in the day and any financial impact on the NZRFU be damned. What's changed over the last twenty five years, apart from the view out of his office window and access to a few more corporate boxes?

Now I'm no lawyer, but one thing I have been told by lawyers in the past is that if you have a contract, and you can't execute part of that contract due to a statutory ban, then you aren't obliged to and it doesn't generally void the whole contract.

So wouldn't that apply to the Sevens. The IRB and the NZRB are the parties and if the government decides to refuse visitor permits to Fijian sportsman, then that wouldn't void the contract.

Or is NZ law actually subordinate to the IRB?

What's changed over the last twenty five years, apart from the view out of his office window and access to a few more corporate boxes?

Craig, you've not changed your opinion on anything in 25 years?

Rich - certainly an entire contract isn't necessarily voided by a failure to perform all of it - what is needed generally (and it would depend whether the contract was subject to NZ law, or some other law) is a fundamental breach.

The IRB will have very thorough lawyers and I suspect eventualities like this will have been included in the contract - it will have been agreed that the failure to allow all teams to participate would be a fundamental breach (thus allowing the avoiding of the contract).

As an aside, I would guess that the contract would be subject to English law, not NZ law.

Paul:

I've changed my views on all kinds of things over the last twenty five years from the trivial (I no longer agree with my ten year old self that Star Wars is the best movie ever) to the essential (being gay isn't the worse thing in creation). But I'd like to think that I'd have been at least slightly embarrased at blithely trotting off to the Sevens, a few months after I'd recounted my anti-Tour credentials to anyone in the Press Gallery who cared to listen.

I'd also like to think the New Zealand Government's response to the military coup in Fiji won't be compromised by mixed messages. There's a serious argument to be had around whether sanctions are effective or not, but when you've got one Minister trying to poke a loophole through travel bans the ink isn't quite dry on yet, you've got to ask why anyone should take New Zealand seriously.

I have to agree, Craig. It might not be so bad if the government had given at least some impression that it tried to take some firm action on sporting contacts.

Russell:

Well, yes - especially considering this situation is hardly without precedent. And much as I hate to agree with Lila Harre on anything, she made a perfectly fair point on __Nine to Noon__'s Politics segment today, that the International Netball Federation was (pardon the pun) on the ball in pulling hosting rights for the world champs from Fiji without fadging around, and (if my memory serves) beginning contingency planning for what would happen if a coup went down months ago. Which doesn't really say much for the big brains of Wellywood and the IRB, does it?

I understand that the NZ Rugby Union are on the Board of the IRB, along with whole bunch of other countries,

And... Given that the Rugby Union are wanting a not insignificant chunk of change from the Govt to be spent on an event dear to their heart up Auckland way....

I wonder if there is any possibility that in an effort to "do what we can" the NZ Union might promote a remit that would seek Fiji's suspension from Rugby 7s.....- Yeah I know it will get voted down in a great flaming attack, but at least they can say
"The IRB said no, but we did ask"

I'm always amused by the bizarre impression that people have of sanctions, that they're a great thing until they start to actually impact upon the world, and then we shouldn't do it.

I suspect the point of sanctions is that having a real impact upon the world is precisely when they start to bite, and that's the point that they need to be applied.

I'd be terribly disappointed to see the Fijian team here if things don't improve over there. I was disappointed to see them in South Africa over the weekend, given the positive influence that sporting sanctions have had on the future of that country!

Carlaw Park would hinge on accessibility obviously but could potentially work if the developers are very clever.

A rail station at the back of the existing wooden stand could provide a nice entry point to that stand or around the entire venue if they had a concourse? or whatever the hell wrap around walkways are called. It would be easy enough to come from the Newmarket direction or from the other line so both would feed into it just as nicely as Britomart would for a waterfront stadium. Only at Carlaw people would literally be feeding into the ground.

The motorways all converge (or potentially converge if you take the right off ramps) at that spot as well. The hard part would be getting people off the motorways and into car parks. A bit of match day light phasing could sort most of that out. They might have to look at underground car parking. Most of the WC venues I went to in Korea had parking under the ground itself and a lesser amount nearby above ground.

A travelator underground from the city would probably be as much of an attraction as the actual event itself.

I'm so anti Eden Park that I would probably support the demolition of several orphanges for a new stadium at the moment.

I'm so anti Eden Park that I would probably support the demolition of several orphanges for a new stadium at the moment.

Don't tease, Yamis, that's just cruel. :)

I'm with Craig. It's a very similar issue to the Springbok tour, which, incidentally, I have not changed my view on for 25 years. At age 10 I knew it was wrong to support apartheid, and at age 35, I still know it's wrong to support race based dictatorships. That the racists happen to be brown themselves changes nothing.

Hi

After 25 year my ideas have changed. Back in 1981 I was convinced a ban on sprots would never sway a government and hence sports and politics should not be mixed.

I was wrong

It is absolutely clear sporting bans have an effect, how large depends on the country and the sport. For Rugby Sevens and Fiji I believe the effect would be significant.

So of course New Zealand should deny the Fijian sevens team visas.

Personally I doubt the IRB would cancel the Wellington Tournament because:
it would be very very difficult to reschedule the tournament in the time available, note the difficulty the Netball folks are having with 7 months lead time and
the IRB would look like ****holes if the supported the coup and the IRB does understand bad media

Of course the IRB could play nasty and remove Wellington from the sevens tour next year - but morals sometimes come with a cost.

I'd hope the Government realises most kiwis would prefer the moral standard rather than the short term cash.

Well I hope most kiwis would prefer to take the morally best position on this and yes I know that presupposes that banning the Fijian team is the moally best position.

cheers
Bart

I agree with Craig's earlier post. It would've been better to have seen the Govt make some sort of attempt to enforce sporting snactions on the Fijian RFU than to have caved in to the souless beaurocrats at the IRB.

I understand the IRB are the 'administrators' of the international game and have to maintain an apolitical stance on all matters but surely couldn't we have had some political guts on this one and at least given the current illegal Fijian regime the hint that what is happening in their country at present isn't tolerated by NZ.

I'm sure the IRB would've eventually seen the sense in this and bowed to the majority of their members who I'm sure would've wanted a ban on the Fijian 7's team purely on moral grounds also.

Mind you maybe I'm being naieve. I remeber the completely out of touch attitude of the International Cricket Board towards imposing sanctions (or lack of) on Zimbabwe several years ago.

I agree with Craig's earlier post. It would've been better to have seen the Govt make some sort of attempt to enforce sporting snactions on the Fijian RFU than to have caved in to the souless beaurocrats at the IRB.

I understand the IRB are the 'administrators' of the international game and have to maintain an apolitical stance on all matters but surely couldn't we have had some political guts on this one and at least given the current illegal Fijian regime the hint that what is happening in their country at present isn't tolerated by NZ.

I'm sure the IRB would've eventually seen the sense in this and bowed to the majority of their members who I'm sure would've wanted a ban on the Fijian 7's team purely on moral grounds also.

Mind you maybe I'm being naieve. I remeber the completely out of touch attitude of the International Cricket Board towards imposing sanctions (or lack of) on Zimbabwe several years ago.

whoops many apologies I hit the Post Reply button twice by mistake.

I still know it's wrong to support race based dictatorships. That the racists happen to be brown themselves changes nothing.

Ben, totally agree. The thing is, NZ and Australia have been supporting racist and pretty undemocratic governments in Fiji since 1989 and this last one was just about the worst.

Funny thing about this coup is that it is aimed at redressing the balance somewhat. I think there has been a bit of a knee jerk reaction here without recognising our culpability in letting Fiji go to the dogs for the last couple of decades.

As for the netball tournament, can anyone tell me whether Fiji has been banned by the international federation from playing? Their press release just talks about moving the tournament which seems a sensible logistical decision rather than demonstrating any superior integrity.