SUVA, Fiji, April 5, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Two Fiji rugby players have been
arrested for ignoring the Pacific nation’s coronavirus self-isolation rules,
with local authorities saying their “irresponsible behaviour” would be
reported to rugby’s world governing body.
The two men have not been publically identified but the Fiji Rugby Union
confirmed they were professionals and media reported them variously to be
sevens players and internationals.
Fiji are the Olympic sevens champions and were third in the current world
series before it was put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama accused the players of putting “the whole
of Fiji at risk”.
He said one player, who arrived from Singapore, “had a high risk of
exposure to the virus while overseas” and then escaped from isolation in a
Fiji hospital.
“Unlucky for him he couldn’t step his way past our Fiji police force. He
has been arrested and is in isolation at Nadi hospital,” Bainimarama said.
The Fiji Rugby Union would take “appropriate disciplinary actions against
the professional rugby players, including reporting this highly irresponsible
behaviour to their clubs and World Rugby,” chief executive John O’Connor
said.
“The Fiji rugby family wants to put on record our great disappointment at
the irresponsible behaviour of these two players putting their families and
other Fijians at risk.
“Such irresponsible behaviour is totally unacceptable, and we support the
actions of the police in arresting these two players and any further action
taken against them.”