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Fiji's rugby sevens team have been forced to change their travel plans after they were told they would not be allowed to transit through New Zealand on their way to the Dubai Sevens at the end of the month.
Due to visa restrictions placed on the country since the military coup the team have had to make arrangements to go to the game via Australia.
But the restrictions were relaxed to ensure big sporting events, such as the Wellington Sevens tournament in February, could go ahead.
Fiji's rugby union chief executive Timoci Tavanavanui told the Fiji Sun that, despite the glitch, he did not see any problems "in terms of participating in [sevens events] in Wellington and Adelaide".
"We hope good sense will prevail."
The Labour Department said yesterday there were exemptions for multilateral sporting tournaments, hosted by New Zealand, when the hosts did not have control over the selection of participants.
However, individual players who have links with Fiji's military would still be barred from the country.
- NZPA
