Page 30 - IB Nov 2017

Sport French deal French rugby targets Aviation Two new acquitions for Air
Niugini: P32
Flying Fijian: P31

From Page 29 to let them know that there is support
Last month, with the help of some ‘ We hear available and that we are there to help
them. We are also in France to help the
prominent names from the islands who about players clubs understand how to get the best out of
are on the board such as former Samoan these players and make it collaborative.”
and England international Manu Tuilagi, unable to He said they were shocked to hear from
Tonga-born England prop Mako Vuni- get food at players of some of their conditions.
pola, Fijian international Nemani Nadolo the weekend “We have heard horrendous stories
and Tongan Charles Piutau, the world’s and going from players of what happens when they
highest-paid rugby professional, they arrive from the islands. Say you have a
campaigned across France, where most young fella from Fiji. He’s told he’s on
of these sad cases were reported, to raise starving ›€700 (US$811) a month. At home that’s
awareness and extend their brotherhood a great salary, but in France we know
in the hope of creating a level playing to training ‘ that’s not going very far. Then he’s told:
field in France and the rest of Europe for Daniel Leo in action for Samoa against England at ‘Don’t worry, we’ll supply you with a room
TwickenHam in November, 2014. Photo: IRB
island players. and food.’
Following the death of Fijian Sireli Temo and Netani Talei as the other Fijians on “The room is a probably a mattress on
last November and other similar isolated the board. the floor, almost certainly in a bad part of
unreported cases, Leo and the PRPW set Leo said another two would join them town. And, while he gets fed during the
out to bond island players under one um- in the next 12 months. week, we often hear about players unable
brella and give them a voice. The welfare association is run by play- to get food at the weekend and going to
Temo’s death highlighted the isolation ers for players. They understand what it training starving,” he told Islands Busi-
many Pacific Islanders face when living far takes to move overseas and make a living ness.
from home and their support networks. by playing rugby. Leo made his name as “The sad thing is our boys don’t know
Talking to Islands Business, Leo said an abrasive back rower in London Wasps, their own value or the cost of living which
other pros have taken their lives in France Bordeaux Bègles and USA Perpignan, is much higher than at home with all of the
but their stories have not been reported which gives him a useful perspective on taxes etc. What seems like a lot of money
due to respect for families and a reluctance the challenges for players arriving to take in the islands is not enough to live on
to speak to the media. up contracts from the Pacific Islands. here. We need to ensure that a minimum
Having initially set up the welfare group “We only visited a small part of France wage is set for our players arriving and
in England, Leo and his fellow directors and the response we got was incredible,” importantly, that someone can hold clubs
are now offering their support further he says. and agent accountable to deliver on what
afield after former Fiji hooker Sunia Koto, The team first travelled to Perpignan, they have promised. Our young boys
who informed Temo’s family of his death, Lyon and Clermont for the French launch particularly can be preyed upon.”
contacted Leo for PRPW to extend its ser- of PRPW. “This is where it’s important that our
vice to France. “We’ve massively underestimated how senior boys who have experience in con-
“That’s one of the most dreadful experi- many Pacific Islanders are playing rugby tracts and probably have an understand-
ences I’ve gone through, having to share in France. ing of one’s value can step in and assist.
that news with his family,” Koto said of “We thought initially there would be This is what we are doing with PRPW,
breaking the news of Temo’s death. something like 300 but now we believe utilising the knowledge and mana of our
“Personally going through that, I just it could be closer to 500 in France alone.” established players hence formalising that
want to dedicate the rest of my time in In total there are more than 600 Pacific process where young players can turn for
rugby and in France towards stopping any Islanders playing in Europe, approximate- support.”
more tragedies like that. ly 18 per cent of the total registry. Players can be dealing with mental
“It’s so important for players to know More than 100 Fijians have since reg- health difficulties, not something often
that this group is there, where people will istered with PRPW. Leo expects this to discussed openly in their culture, where
have time to listen to your problems and double in the next 12 months. the traditional attitude is to never com-
help you deal with them. Lei said they had only scratched the plain, never talk about feelings and always
“We pride ourselves on not showing our surface of the professional rugby circuit in keep a smile on your face.
emotions. We’ll make jokes but we hide France and there are plans to visit players Leo said the he and his organisation
that fragile part in us. in rugby strongholds such as Toulouse, are there to provide friendship and will-
“But now we’re trying to say, ‘hey, this Biarritz and Bayonne in the next few ing ear, not only for the player, but also
is a different world altogether’. months. for his family.
“We’ve got each other to confide in, so French clubs are contacting the associa- “There are a number of challenges we
open up and share your experiences. tion to ask if they can work together. It are aiming to combat for our players,”
“This is all for future generations, so is early days but there appears to be an he said.
that they don’t have to go through some appetite for collaboration from the clubs. “First of all, we need to work hard to
of the same difficulties we did.” Leo and The PRPW is also advising players from combat this social isolation and make sure
his board do not want another Pacific as far away as Romania, Russia and Sri our players are talking with one another
Islander playing in France to feel isolated Lanka. and sharing problems. Then we also need
ever again. Leo and his organisation are working to think about the players’ families.
Koto now joins Nadolo, Joe Rokocoko hard to explain cultural differences to play- “If you have a young family that come
ers and their clubs.“We arrived in France

30 Islands Business, November 2017