The director of the Fiji Rugby Union, Laijipa Naulivou, was dismissed just days after taking on the role due to controversial comments she made about the women’s national team. Naulivou sparked outrage by suggesting that the team had a “gay problem” and criticizing the coach, claiming they should be removed. She also called for a panel to be formed to select the team, stating that the coach, who she described as practicing “lesbianism,” should not be in charge of choosing players.
Her remarks were widely condemned by women’s rights groups, who described her comments as harmful and discriminatory. Following the backlash, the Fiji Rugby Union announced her dismissal in a statement on Wednesday.
Naulivou, the newly appointed director of the Fiji Rugby Union, was dismissed just days into her role after making controversial comments about the women’s national rugby team. In an interview, Naulivou referred to the team’s challenges as a “gay problem” and criticized the coach, suggesting the coach should be removed. She also recommended setting up a panel to select the team instead of allowing a coach she accused of being involved in “lesbianism” to make those decisions.
These comments sparked outrage, with women’s rights groups condemning them as harmful and discriminatory. The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement expressed its shock and concern, emphasizing that the focus should be on improving the well-being of players, not on their sexuality. The organization’s executive director, Nalini Singh, criticized Naulivou for perpetuating harmful stereotypes that have no place in modern sports.
Further criticism arose from the disparity in how the women’s team was treated compared to the men’s team. In 2023, members of the women’s team reportedly spent a night on benches at Sydney Airport while the men stayed in a hotel. This incident sparked public anger, with authorities citing a “miscommunication” as the reason.
Naulivou, a well-known figure in Fiji’s rugby community and the first captain of the women’s national team, had been appointed to her new role just three weeks before the women’s team participated in the HSBC Sevens tournament. After the team’s poor performance, she had written a report recommending the removal of the coach. Despite being asked to resign, Naulivou’s departure was confirmed by the Fiji Rugby Union, which stressed its commitment to professionalism and protecting the integrity of Fiji Rugby. The Union assured that the dismissal would not affect the team’s future opportunities or development.
