The announcement that Jarryd Hayne would be throwing his hat in the ring for the Fijian rugby sevens team drew a lot of opinions from commentators from around the world.
Some of those opinions have been positive and some negative, which is to be expected under such circumstances. However, there is a certain irony at the negative noise made by a number of Australian rugby commentators.
A few notable former Wallabies like Andrew Slack, Greg Martin and Peter Fitzsimons have declared Hayne to be selfish for his decision to join the Fijian team. The view was typically supported with some cliché about Hayne “taking a spot from a kid in a village and ruining his dreams of representing his nation”.
So you ask, what made these comments ironic?
Two things stick out.
First, the conversation was also punctuated with discussions about whether Australian rugby could tempt Hayne to play here. So it would seem that the deep concern for “some kid in a village” in Fiji, might be tempered with a fair whack of self-interest on the part of the Australian rugby community.
Even more curious given that Hayne is actually a rugby league and NFL player, who has to our knowledge never demonstrated any interest in playing the 7 or 15-man codes for Australia.
Second, Fiji is much, much better than Australia at rugby sevens. The Fijians have just won their third world series, are the second most capped team in the World after New Zealand, and are currently ranked second in the World in the 7s ranking system.
In contrast Australia’s record on the same outcomes are zero, sixth and sixth. The Fijians are far, far better at this game than Australia is, so it is reasonable to assume that they had a plan and purpose in mind when they picked up Hayne.
Yet Aussie rugby commentators presume to tell them who to select for their team? I find that extraordinarily patronising.
It would seem that if a Fiji Sun Online story the issue is anything to go by, many Fijians might feel the same way. The story was specifically lambasting Peter Fitzsimons, who managed to not only be patronising, but to inadvertently fail to understand that the word “bastard” is not used as a term of endearment in all cultures when he described the bloke who would miss out as “some poor bastard in Fiji”.
Fitzsimons subsequently apologised to the Fijian people for his use of the word, but then partly blamed the CEO of the Fijian rugby union and the journalist who wrote the story, for not better explaining the Australian usage of the word. All the while he failed to address the underlying perception that he and other Australian commentators have created around the issue. Here are a couple of quotes which should give you a clue.
“He is simply bitter that the Australians cannot have him on their side whether it’s a return to rugby league or a switch to rugby union.”
The following comment was also made.
“Who does he think he is to dictate to us what we can do or can’t do. Ryan and his team are working towards preparing the best squad for the Rio Olympics in August.”
Seriously, if Australian rugby commenters were deliberately trying to make Australians look like a bunch of arrogant, overbearing neo-colonialists to the Fijians, they couldn’t have done a better job than they have with their behaviour on the matter of Hayne.
What Australians need to remember is that Fiji and the other Pacific Nations have provided this country with a lot of outstanding rugby players and it is arguable whether the current Wallabies would have got to where they are in the World Cup or World Rugby Rankings if it wasn’t for them.
Despite the fact that I am predicting the usual protestations that “we provide them with education and money to send home so they owe us”, the fact is that Australian rugby is now competing in a global market for the best talent. The best Pacific Island players can command big incomes from multiple locations around the world, while still playing for the Pacific nations if they wish.
It is time that prominent Australian commentators took stock of who really needs who in deals between Australian rugby and the Pacific Island players, and started to show them a lot more respect.
Ephraim Baba
Guest
Hayne will always be loved by Fijians. He is one of Fiji's finest Rugby player. No matter what they say, Jarryd is now one of Fiji's 7's Team Asset.
Oceanbreeze
Guest
The problem lays in classifications. Australians class themselves as Australian by way of birth and citizenship. Fijian class themselves as Fijian by the blood that runs through their veins. Therein lies the misunderstanding. Hayne was born in Australia therefore Australians class him a Aussie according to their classification. Haynes Dad is Fijian which means Fijian blood runs through his vein therefore the Fijian class him as a Fijian according to their classification. So it boils down to democracy by way of choice. Hayne chose Australian rugby league team which is a score of one. He chose Fijian rugby league and Sevens team which is a score of two. Thereby according to democracy Hayne is a Fijian.
Happy Hooker
Guest
Andrew Slack, Greg Martin and Peter FitzSimons notable former Wallabies? The first I'd agree with ...
Boz the Younger
Guest
Ta :-)
BULA
Guest
Good post Bro!!
KaiVtit
Guest
you are more than accurate! :)
ken
Guest
What about Ilivasi Tabua " THE HUMAN SKEWER " ??
bazza
Guest
Uate was a village boy too ??
Train Without A Terminus
Guest
I hate to point this out but for it to be an intellectual contest you'll have to lift your game. Plus I'm not defending anyone or anything. I'm stating my opinion that the article is rubbish and that you're an a$$hat..
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
People forget why hayne was picked in the first place, its not that he was the best option, its because he was the only option at that time... Ben Ryan refused to take a reserve back with him to the final 2 tournaments, so when Tuisova pulled out, which he didnot expect, he became worried but when Ravouvou was forced to pull out, and Kunatani (who can play in the backs and forwards had a knee issue), Ryan had no option but to put Hayne in the final 12.. making the final 12 does not mean you start or play every game, If any of those numbnuts Australian journalist had followed fiji 7's, they would know Fiji always takes ONE player in the final 12 which they barely if at all use..the last such player was Josua Vici the leg before..Hayne unfortunately became that player..I think ryan's only mistake was not to start hayne against Wales..this could have ignited his confidence..Viriviri may have been a good player in 2014, he isn't now, he has lost a ton of pace so people who think viriviri will make the final 12 to rio must be on drugs Only 3 players at this stage are all but going to Rio, they are Kolinisau, Veremalua and Rawaca ..everyone else has to prove their worth locally including Ravouvou, Jerry and Pio Tuwai and Leone, Wise and Josua tuisova...personally I'd take Josua tuisova and nakarawa, they gave something Fiji did not have all season during the paris 7's..Kunatani is poor now, Nayacalevu needs to work on his fitness, same for Viriviri and Pio tuwai......the otherse are out of sorts... Hayne still has a chance but he has to prove himself locally...I now wonder if he will choose to come to fiji and play in atleast 2 local tournaments ..Fiji may have many 7's players but it lacks classy players , most either join clubs in europe or make themselves unavailable like niko matawalu, Metu Talebula, Vereniki Goneva and Watisonv Votu....while a few of our legends in 7's were dropped by ryan and completely ignored like William Ryder, Ilai Tinai and Emsi Vucago..
Boz the Younger
Guest
Interesting hashtag TOF, I hope a few of the other people here read it but I think they may find it too confronting.
Fijian
Guest
I guess you'd know.
Mr.Media
Guest
City boys? But surely the country people are smarter .... at least in some cases?
Alibaba
Guest
Didn't he answered all this when he says, "Fiji asked me first"?.. Have any of you who have a problem with JH playing for Fiji has ever asked the Australian 7s Officials if they have asked him to play for Australia and when? I honestly think that you all barking at the wrong tree.
Theotherfijian
Guest
And that's it Boz, as a culture we are all about mentoring. We take the time to teach anyone that's willing to learn. A Fijian can have multiple degree's in the western world, but what your elder says overrides anything that you believe in. More like shut up and listen. So in this case, the hierarchy say (ie Ben Ryan & FRU) then it is fairly excepted, no questions asked. So in this case some Fijians may find it insulting that certain individuals are questioning what we believe Ben Ryan and FRU have every right to do. Yes, there are Fijians that have opinions but they have never been in Haynes shoes so what will they know? I think it's healthy to have a bit of competition at training and if you've ever been to a Fijian training session, you hear a lot of laughter. If Haynes presence can bring the best out of those village boys then he won't be making the Olympic team because there are some kids out there who haven't been exposed to the world yet so hang onto your seat. So to answer all the questions as to wether he has left it too late? Yes, but he's a freak and he has 11 other great Fijians around to back him up. #Tosoviti
Boz the Younger
Guest
"We don’t worry about him taking someone else’s spot. Because it is everyone’s spot." Very interesting cultural perspective that would be completely foreign to most Australians. Just another reason why, when we are dealing with another culture, we should learn to ask more questions and offer less opinions.
Common Sense
Roar Rookie
Welcome to the internet.
Theotherfijian
Guest
Totally agree, remember the days when sport was fun? After school, we would play five forms of sport with a flip flop or an empty plastic bottle. We didn't need development squads or did our parents have to fork out $1500 a year for your kid to develop his skills so he can qualify for reps. We learnt our skills playing soccer or rugby against the older kids at the local park that was no bigger than the 22. 40 Fijians one ball/a flip flop/ coke bottle or anything that could be found on 20m square of tar or grass. A kid would be picked on merit alone and all kids had the right to try out for any club side they wanted to. It was all about participation, and that's the same right I believe JH has been given. Money or a gold medals don't mean anything when it comes to being fair. Every man has the right to be heard or seen. Unfortunately that's just our culture guys. There's no way around it.
Theotherfijian
Guest
Gold medal? They might be lucky to even win the bronze. Sth Africa is probably the biggest threat and I'm putting money on them to win the gold. They have gas across the park and have a bit more than just brawn. Then you have Great Britain that have three nations representing as one...another massive threat to the gold medal. NZ have been a bit sneaky and I'm a bit weary of them too. You have USA, Kenya and Australia that all have put their claim on the gold medal through the world series. Hayne most likely won't be picked if he doesn't have the goods, unlike Matt Rogers, Wendell Sailor , Nathan Blacklock & Lote Tuquiri who were placed in Super Rugby or the Wallabies sides just because they were paid for. Displaced a lot of club boys playing Shute Shield and ruined every dream some young back who wanted to play for NSW or Qld and some of us were pretty damn dirty. Like WTF does a kid playing third tier rugby have to do to get a jersey. Andrew Walker who went walk about now again from the roosters was probably my favourite convert (could ghost a run) when he played for the Wallabies and the Brumbies. Hayne won't cost us a gold or can win us one but Fiji can lose the gold, silver or the bronze if the other teams play a great tactical game against them. What I like to see now is rugby union bringing all the boys that played union when they were young back from the NRL. Like Kafe said "#bringtheboyshome".
b arry morrell
Guest
Can't change a man's heart when the stomach is satisfied.