Former Vodafone Flying Fijians head coach, Ilivasi Tabua, says, he’s astonished that Ben Ryan’s Olympic gold medal winning sevens team failed to pick up a single prize at the World Rugby Awards in London.

Fiji was nominated for team of the year, captain Osea Kolinisau for player of the year, and Ryan for coach of the year. But when it came to the winners, two of the awards went to New Zealand and one to South Africa.

Speaking to ABC Online, the former Australian Wallabies flanker said, he can’t understand how World Rugby could reach such decisions against the background of Fiji’s Olympic success and their continued dominance of the World Sevens Series.

As of yesterday, fans angry reactions continued on at the World Rugby Facebook.

Mike Samson Smith: “Yea right… Just an interview…no awards…come on world rugby….is that all u can do for 7s rugby”

Thomas Ledua: “This award is known as nz rugby awards night. …the rest of the world are just puppets.”

Ifraz Hassan: “Such a pity World Rugby… Fiji Rugby 7s had outclassed themselves but still they dint scoop a single award… Hats off to Ben Ryan and his team, they have proven themselves.”

Duncan Williams: “How is it that this team and their historic acheivement were completely overlooked at the recent world rugby awards?”

Sumeet Kapadia: “Truly ‘undeserving.”

Tui Buadromo: “True bro. Most of the boys had their houses scavenged by Tropical Cyclone Winston and half of Fiji were still homeless. But the boys promised to bring back smiles to the island’s.

“And they did with a back to back world title win and an Olympic Gold medal to lift the spirits of all Fijians back home.

“Now that’s what Rugby can do and that’s what it’s all about, just like how it united South Africa in 1995, that’s what happened in Fiji. It helped a broken down nation rise again and that is something World Rugby can’t seem to understand.”

DavidnCarey Koto: “Its a farce award…what’s the use of including sevens rugby in the award when even a team like Fiji that won the Olympic Rugby Sevens Gold Medal is not recognized. Remember this, no sporting platform is bigger than the OLYMPIC Games not even the world cup. Isn’t thats the reason WorldRugby has been pushing so hard for almost 100 years for rugby to be included again into the Olympics?”

Afia Zahin: “This time Fiji deserved it. I don’t know what more needs to be done after winning olympics to prove the IRB that. Sorry IRB but you are wrong this time.”

Saunikalou N Aivy
Qolivicicia: “Fiji team won tournaments with limited resources which also includes beating all blacks in the Olympics.”

Ray Anthony Sharma: “Racist awards”

David Jahredz: “Tell the all blacks to try winning a rugby game without using south sea islanders!just try….Ultimate poachers of the Pacific.#onlygoodcozyoubuytalent.”

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