Fiji Rugby Union

The 28-year-old faces surgery this week after damaging ankle ligaments during his side’s European Challenge Cup quarter-final loss to Bordeaux last week.

He will now be missing as Richard Cockerill’s team kick off the season against Ospreys at Murrayfield on Saturday. And Mata is also likely to be absent when Fiji visit Edinburgh in late November as part of the new Autumn Nations Cup tournament.

In 2007, the All Black centre was a serious capture for the Warriors at that time when the club consistently inhabited the lower reaches of the old Celtic League.

His wife, Liana, fell pregnant with triplets later that year. It was joyous news for the couple who had struggled to conceive, but delivering three babies can present a host of complications. When Indy, Finley and Oscar arrived eight weeks premature, Liana underwent an emergency caesarean section and doctors feared she and the triplets may not survive the procedure.

Former New South Wales Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson, current Crusaders assistant coach Jason Ryan and former test referee Glen Jackson have signed on to help their Kiwi compatriot, while breakdown specialist Richie Gray previously worked with Cotter during his time in charge of Scotland and Montpellier.

Nasilasila is appealing his eight-year sentence - he was jailed in September for the 2018 rape of a young woman.

In court on Tuesday, the Olympic gold medallist claimed his former defence team had failed to tender documents which included messages between him and the victim.

Nasilasila's new lawyer Mosese Naivalu also informed the court that his client and the victim had been in contact for 19 months.

The matter has been adjourned to 3 November when the trial counsels will respond to Nasilasila's claims.

Fiji Rugby announced in April it was cutting costs in an attempt to manage the financial fallout from the coronavirus.

Conway Beg was appointed to the FRU Board late last month by the Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who is also President of the rugby union.

The pandemic was causing upheaval with sporting organisations all over the world and Fiji Rugby was no different.

The former Scotland head coach was unveiled as the new Fiji mentor in January but has yet to step foot in the country because of Covid-19.

He's currently back home in New Zealand, where Fiji's Skipper Cup domestic competition is being screened on TV.

"I watched the Nadroga vs Namosi game this last weekend so when I'm able to watch the Skipper Cup, the Farebrother Trophy I've enjoyed watching it," he said.

"All I can say to the players is - there's a lot of enthusiasm and I love the crowds occasion as well - is just to play as best as possible.

An architect by profession, Beg was appointed to the FRU Board late last month by the Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who is also President of the rugby union.

He succeeds Francis Kean, who stood down as Chairman two weeks ago following a controversial five year term, in which he was accused of homophobia and interfering with team selections.

Kean, a former navy commander who was convicted of manslaughter in 2007, is also a brother in law to Bainimarama.

The Welshman's original four-year deal was scheduled to end in December but, with the 2020 Olympics delayed by 12 months because of Covid-19, the FRU has extended his deal until the end of the global sporting showpiece in August next year, where Fiji will defend their gold medal from four years ago.

While the 2019/20 World Sevens Series was brought to a premature end last week, Gareth Baber intends to keep his players busy with provincial and local sevens competitions.

"We've put some plans in place based around what is happening here domestically in Fiji," he said.

Earlier World Rugby said it was investigating the claims against Francis Kean, who had been one of eight nominees for the seven positions on the influential Executive Committee.

The Sunday Times reported it had heard a recording of Kean while he was in charge of the Fiji prison service, in which the paper alleged homophobic language was used.

World Rugby said it noted the allegations and took them extremely seriously.

A Sunday Times report revealed allegations of homophobia against Fiji chairman Ratu Vilikesa Bulewa Francis Kean, as well as his conviction for manslaughter in 2007, which has left the former head of the Fijian Navy under pressure to stand down.

The revelations could also spell trouble for World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont, whose bid for re-election has been backed by the FRU

Kean is also looking to secure a position on World Rugby’s executive committee, but is now expected to withdraw.