The treatment of Pacific Island rugby players in the professional era is compared to colonialism in a new documentary film produced and narrated by former Samoa international Leo. The treatment of Pacific Island rugby players in the professional era is compared to colonialism in a new documentary film produced and narrated by former Samoa international Dan Leo. “Oceans Apart: Greed, Betrayal and Pacific Island Rugby” accuses World Rugby and the sport’s elite nations of exploiting the player resources of the Pacific Islands while retaining almost all of the wealth those players create. At the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, 42 players of Pacific Island heritage played for nations other than those of their birth or background. Leo heads the Pacific Rugby Players Welfare organisation which was formed to represent Pacific players, to lobby for fairer treatment and to address the inequities in the professional game.

Source: Stuff November 20, 2020 04:41 UTC