Lote Tuqiri has joined Nemani Nadolo in slamming Tremendous Rugby Pacific’s “unacceptable” mistreatment of the travelling Fijian Drua, the duo hoping such a flip of occasions by no means occurs once more.
Fiji-born legend and twin Australian worldwide Tuqiri additionally took purpose at New Zealand’s “lack of hospitality” after studying the Drua have been pressured out of their lodge room in Napier, with nowhere to go and relaxation, a number of hours earlier than enjoying the well-accommodated Hurricanes in spherical two a fortnight in the past.
However Tuqiri’s largest beef is how officers, at the present time, might haven’t organised higher transport for an expert rugby crew than on the Friday night time horror present on February 21.
Having landed in New Zealand simply earlier than midnight, 16 hours earlier than kick-off towards the Hurricanes in a location a number of hours’ drive away, the Drua squad couldn’t find the bus booked by Tremendous Rugby organisers to move them to their lodge.
After discovering the bus firm’s obvious mistake, the Fijian outfit reportedly piled into the again of a truck booked to move the crew’s baggage and tools.
“It is ridiculous,” Tuqiri instructed AAP.
“You’d suppose the organisers would have it sorted, given how previous the competitors is. It isn’t like a brand new competitors.
“It was in all probability not meant however, I imply, it is really unacceptable.”
Even after lastly arriving at a lodge they needed to share with the Hurricanes, the Drua gamers and workers have been instructed they may not get a late check-out like their hosts loved, earlier than the 4pm kick-off on Saturday.
“You possibly can’t anticipate a crew to be handled that method,” Tuqiri mentioned.
“They don’t seem to be an under-11s or under-12s crew who’ve put funds collectively (for a junior road-trip).
“They are a skilled outfit and they need to be handled accordingly.”
Nadolo echoed Tuqiri’s ideas with a press release on Fb, accompanied by an image of the truck the Drua reportedly crammed into after their bus was nowhere to be discovered.
“How is that this even occurring? What frustrates me probably the most is that after an extended flight, the crew arrives on the airport solely to search out that their bus is nowhere to be seen. As an alternative of ready one other three hours for it to reach, the boys bounce at the back of a truck to get to the lodge,” Nadolo posted on Fb.
“To make issues worse, they’re denied a late checkout, leaving them to both wander round or sleep within the foyer for hours-while the Hurricanes squad will get to relaxation comfortably of their rooms proper up till recreation time.
“Me and lots of others mentioned they misplaced that recreation within the final 10 minutes. However after listening to what occurred, I believe they really misplaced the sport the minute they landed in Auckland.
“Now, take into consideration this: each time a Tremendous Rugby franchise visits Fiji, they’re handled like royalty, with police escorts and top-tier hospitality. Are you able to think about an Australian or New Zealand crew ever being put by means of one thing like this?”
Compounding the Drua’s frustration, they misplaced on the buzzer 38-34, having additionally let a late lead slip in spherical one at dwelling towards the ACT Brumbies.
“I do not suppose we acquired all of the favours touchdown in Wellington. We did not have a bus prepared, sadly, after which even after we acquired to the lodge in Napier, we did not have a room prepared,” Drua coach Glen Jackson lamented.
“So there have been loads of issues that went towards us.”
Then, after a six-day turnaround, the travel-weary Drua additionally blew a late lead towards the NSW Waratahs in Sydney final Friday night time.
Tuqiri, a 2003 Wallabies World Cup finalist and twin NRL premiership winner with Brisbane and South Sydney, mentioned dropping three straight tight contests towards Tremendous Rugby heavyweights was powerful.
However the proud Fijian Australian considers the therapy in New Zealand even more durable to swallow.
“To be truthful, I am really a bit of bit stunned on the New Zealanders’ lack of hospitality,” Tuqiri mentioned.
“Within the sense that they (Fiji and NZ) are shut neighbours.
“Clearly the lodge was booked out and there have been issues occurring that you may’t management, however I believe these type of issues you’ll be able to (discover a answer to).
“You possibly can’t have blokes strolling round on recreation day, sitting in parks, mendacity down within the foyer and this, that and the opposite.
“It is an unfair enjoying discipline. Getting in at 12 at night time, the bus not being there … it is simply ridiculous. It certainly cannot occur once more.
“I am certain it is in all probability occurred earlier than however issues have in all probability been put into place since.
“I do not know the ins and outs of it however this should not be occurring from an expert standpoint.
“The competitors has been operating now for 30-odd years.”
