Pacific Rugby Players Welfare

Rugby World Cup rest periods welcomed, timing questioned

The pool phase will be extended by a week, ensuring teams will have at least five days to prepare for all matches, while squad sizes will be increased from 31 to 33 players.

PRPW said that since 2003 the scheduling of Rugby World Cup matches has "brazenly prejudiced Tier 2 nations" and said the latest reforms are long overdue.

"This is a significant step towards a tournament that fully respects the ideals of fair play, and it will make a great difference to the Pacific Island teams," said former Manu Samoa international and PRPW CEO Dan Leo.

Overseas-based players join Pacific Rugby Players Welfare board

The organisation is led by former Manu Samoa player, Dan Leo.

Among the new members are former All Blacks Jerome Kaino, Anthony Tuitavake and Seta Tamanivalu.

There are also two current All Blacks both from the Wellington Hurricanes – Centre, Ngani Laumape and Flanker, Ardie Savea.

From the Major League Rugby Competition in USA are Andrew Durutalo and Shalom Suniula.

Fijian internationals Jim Nagusa, John Matavesi, Ilikena Bolakora and Tongan international Nasi Manu have also joined the board.

All Blacks boost Pacific Rugby Player Welfare Board

Hurricanes team-mate Ngani Laumape has also jumped on board, alongside two time World Cup winner Jerome Kaino, Anthony Tuitavake and Seta Tamanivalu.

The Managing Director of Pacific Rugby Players Welfare, former Manu Samoa fullback Mike Umaga, said it was "The Island Way" to help out and give back to your community.

"Ardie saw the work we'd been doing and he is a very proud Samoan and reached out to Dan [Leo, PRPW CEO] and asked if there was anything he could do.

World Rugby vote a chance for rethink - Pacific advocacy group

Fiji Rugby's Chairman Francis Kean's nomination for the World Rugby Executive Committee was hastily withdrawn on Tuesday following allegations of homophobia in the Sunday Times and a damning open letter to voting members from Pacific Rugby Players Welfare CEO Leo detailing Kean's political and legal history in Fiji.

The former Navy Commander Kean, who was convicted of manslaughter in 2007, also stood down from the World Rugby Council, with Fiji's seat taken by CEO John O'Connor.

Pacific Rugby Player Welfare questions World Rugby

In a letter penned on behalf of PRPW, Leo has asked ‘why does World Rugby have some of the most elaborate and exhaustive eligibility checks for those who play the game but apparently no checks for someone wanting to run the game?’

Kean, whose name was put forward by the Fiji Rugby Union and whose nomination was seconded by the Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR), was convicted of manslaughter in 2006 – but Leo explains that his crimes and conduct are far worse than initially reported.

PRPW says Pacific under-represented at World Rugby

The PRPW has launched a campaign to address what they call the under representation of Pacific nations at the council.

'Seats At The Table' is a new initiative seeking to highlight the fact that Samoa, Tonga and Fiji have less voting power on the council than Canada, Georgia, Romania and the USA and far less influence than Japan and Italy.

Samoa, Tonga and Fiji have a share of two of the 48 votes on the World Rugby Council - those two votes are held by Rugby Oceania, which represents 12 countries, including New Zealand and Australia.