PM won't budge on Fiji ban for RWC

Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Government won't relax travel sanctions against Fiji to avoid potential problems with the Rugby World Cup tournament, Prime Minister John Key says.

Fiji is reported to be threatening to boycott the tournament unless all its team members and officials are allowed into New Zealand, and the International Rugby Board (IRB) doesn't want any upsets.

The travel ban applies to members of Fiji's military and anyone associated with Commodore Frank Bainimarama's ruling regime - and that covers some team members and the chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union.

"We haven't changed our stance, which is that if someone is associated with the regime they will be subject to travel sanctions," Mr Key told reporters today.

"I think Frank Bainimarama's brother-in-law is running it (the Fiji Rugby Union) now, and it would make a bit of a mockery of the sanctions that we have in place."

Mr Key acknowledged that the IRB wanted the Government to relax the rules.

"I'm sure they do, but New Zealand and Australia have been staunch in their views," he said.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully, who is in charge of the tournament, has briefed the IRB on the Government's attitude to Fiji.

- NZPA