Banned Samoa RWC player Sapolu speaks out

The Rugby World Cup has its first banned player -- not for what he did on the field, but for what he said off it.
His name is Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu, a Samoan midfielder who played his first test in 2005 and what may have been his last, against South Africa on Friday.
Born in Samoa, raised in Auckland, Sapolu is based in England where he plays for Gloucester.
But this afternoon the IRB suspended him from all rugby, after he failed to attend a hearing called to discuss his angry outbursts on Twitter about the Rugby World Cup.
The 30-year-old had called a ref a "racist", compared the treatement of Samoa and other countries at the Cup to slavery and much more.
The IRB called him into a formal hearing -- he didn't appear.
Speaking to Campbell Live this evening, Sapolu said he didn't even know it was on.
Read more: www.3news.co.nz/Banned-Samoa-R...

[@lntuipull80]

i'm 100% with you my brother ,ofa atu Tonga

[@xpat73]

Samoa is a gem and we need them. They are amazing rugby players. From and Englishman. Respect.

[@clojap]

I supported him 100% at the time & still do, I'm not Samoan or Polynesian at all but I think fair is fair and everyone should be treated the same. As far as the reporter the guy has to play devils advocate so don't take it like he's being combative, he had to ask the questions to give Eliota Fuimaono Sapulo the chance to get his story out there. Bottom line there was no reason for his team to only get 3 days off while the majority got 7 days, it wasn't right among the other things he brought up.

[@chris685ive]

Thats what you call a person who loves his team and loves his country, Speaking straight out of his heart!! much respect uso 3

[@malmotumotu5218]

Eliota Saupolu,you are a Champion!You are a Samoan hero and to us Tongan,you are a hero too.We need more people like you to stand up to these BULLIES!(IRB)

[@makavelithadon7883]

Thus was reciprocated in the dying seconds of the 2017 RLWC semi-final match between England and Tonga. Where a player of the Tongan team was denied a crucial video ref decision, that would've determined whether Mate Maa Tonga would go through to Grand final against the Australian Kangaroos and possibly win the RLWC.

[@tonystar8224]

Makaveli ThaDon truu

[@selinalelea7246]

Refrees are racist over Pasifika teams, that's horrible n no gooder

[@MrTin71]

All he wants is to be treated like all other players and justice to be carried out. Whats so hard about that? Great man with a good heart. I guess its the only way to stop our way to succeed. Samoa for life. God Bless you uso on your journey to you future.

[@davidc3839]

He is taking cheap shots at someone who can't answer back. Plus, he is playing the race card. There is no evidence that Nigel Owens was biased. I don't want to see someone banned but this idiot needs to act half his age. Calling racism - South Africa has a mixed race squad - does a disservice. to genuine cases

[@jaymartinez8231]

Can’t take u seriously with the Cowgirl pic.. back to the bandwagon for ya...

[@mikefaumuina3275]

Unfortunately leadership at manu Samoa squandered millions behind players backs. No surprise that he was not informed by them of the hearing.

[@trillmaticswaahg7410]

So now you can't even have an opinion about the IRB or you get banned?

[@kiwikoppa]

that's the most troubling thing huh? I guess if they have it in their contracts....but ha ye its laughable that the people he is speaking out against are the ones who have handed down the punishment. conflict of interest alright....

[@respecteffect1202]

I see it every time. Good on u USO. Speakin the truth,

[@hoochie104]

Samoan,Tongan,Fijians should all get the same treatment as the All Blacks.There are Polys on New Zealnd They dont treated like crap!!Messed Up!Mate Ma Tonga!

[@eSava777]

Wow. Wow. Wow. Sapolu, I salute you Sir..

[@teej350]

i fully support Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu 100%, and what he says about the way people see the Samoan style of rugby all i can say is as an irish supporter, and rugby player myself i admire the way Samoa play rugby, the shear physicality of the game really inspires me! if you cant take the hits, stay off the park!

[@raytagnab9385]

TJ Relihan Well said mate... 100% support uso

[@williamwallace2278]

Yep! Same here! Ireland fan as well. Rugby would be utterly boring without Samoa, Fiji, Tonga! Just sometimes the hits can be shall we say a tad high?

[@myrugga]

The sad part of this is that Sapolu has every right to seek accountability of the IRB and Manu Samoa Rugby. It appears that this issue has unfortunately been swept under the carpet and no further action taken. We support Sapolu's stance given that so many other players have spoken out but dare we say it Rugby is now more Political than a Sport.

[@dannyfitzpatrick9783]

"has every right to seek accountability of the IRB" but does not turn up to answer for his childlike anger expressed in such a public manner - claiming he did not know he had to attend. That makes him an accomplished liar would. If he has a problem with Samoan Rugby then it is up to him to take that up with the privileged Big Men in Apia. Just another big gobbed islander en route to being a traditional Big Man himself. According to this donkey everyone else is to blame and he is pure. 😁😂🤣 His mother ought to smack him across the head for his immature stupidity!

[@abnerapineru1428]

8 years later and this shit still happening and isn’t Nigel Owens still reffing too?? Ugh!

[@davidc3839]

Did Nigel Owens offend you - he is one, if not the best referees. The treatment of this man is wrong in that a ban for life is wrong for simply saying his opinion but they are cheap shots

[@Irish780]

Hmmmmm. Isn't he the ref tomorrow. Not good for us

[@jaymartinez8231]

Nigel Owens is the fairest ref in RWC...

[@abnerapineru1428]

Jay Martinez yeah but I’m not referring to him as of today. He is one of the best refs today just not when this video was released. Do some research of what happened then assume what you want. 👍🏽

[@fredpanapa4134]

Thank you for standing strong and proud for what you believe

[@manutoailoateo9969]

Leave Sapolu alone...let him be

[@ginolatino3555]

Good on you mate .Wish all islanders could go on a knee for injustices.

[@privateryan3593]

Truth spoken by a Smart Polynesian

[@thecounto2100]

I don't know man, hes smart and intelligent but he acts like hes a slave. Hes got anger issues and is a racist. As a Samoan hes the man with his views but do you have to act like the white man is the devil? It's a relentless hate and it's annoying.

[@Team_Killer_NZ]

@@thecounto2100 how did you gather this

[@thecounto2100]

@@Team_Killer_NZ Bruh if you dont follow him then i guess asking dumb questions is why im not giving you an answer.

[@Team_Killer_NZ]

@@thecounto2100 you just called him a bunch of shit and didn't eloborate so eloborate

[@krysaliyah]

The Count 0 - your opinion is irrelevant! Btw, not sure where u get your ‘Bruh’ from. Certainly not from our neck of he woods, Bro! Double irrelevant!

[@petegascoigne8965]

Talofa and Kia kaha Brother! truth and justice.

[@lepzjr8405]

You know if it wasn’t for countries like Samoa, Tonga or Fiji! Teams like All blacks, Wallabies or even England wouldn’t be where they’re at!

[@redeemedstone]

At least NZ fought for us wnd appealed to the IRB to allow Tier 2 nations to have ex-All Blacks who haven't made the squad. But it's the 6 Nations who won't have it. Because they get smashed by Tier 2 nations even without any ex-ABs.

[@1969cmp]

This Australian agrees. I would love to see more small Pacific Island nations upset the big guns.

[@treboratat]

Don't forget Polynesian Maori we are Polynesian as well, white NZ of the sixties and seventies created an imaginary difference which suited their needs. divide and conquer. Maori are only allowed to form a team when it suits the NZ rugby board, buck this system and your out in limbo just like Eliota. Eliota has many supporters from his Maori cousins.

[@katalalagavesi4672]

I feel sorry for smaller country like Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. Pacific islanders voice will never being heard by irb but South Africa, New Zealand and Australia voices will be the one heard and irb will be acted towards it.

[@tteariki330]

My cuz, Im proud of you for standing up to these people and pointing out their wrongs which they don't like to admit. good on you.!!!

[@hoihuk]

Well spoken bro

[@MarkWhippy]

On the tweets he made himself sound like an idiot but on here he sounds more reasonable I think referee's are just biased towards tier 1 nations

[@tonycollins7003]

Like so many of these " one man vs a committee" things (eg Israel Folau), the individual will simply not be allowed to win the argument. Strange that these incidents always DEMAND an apology but the other party viz the committee never apologise for errors in judgement- or any other matters. Sportsmanship anf faor play seemingly doesnt count then. Must say being a martyr for the game never works in your favour. Dont agree that ref bias always goes toward first tier nations though. As a South African we have probably seen the most virulent ref bias grom so called best refs for decades. Maybe we're becoming cry babies like the Aussies !!!!

[@that682kid.C]

Good on you for speaking up arua atu my uso from this kuki here 🇨🇰

[@april-tui3524]

Coming back to it in 2019, as another men’s cup goes on, and I’m listening to a lot of white coaches say very similar things with ZERO response from world rugby. He was unfairly treated, especially comparing it to how coaches behave.

[@april-tui3524]

Michael Wilmot Cheika ( who has targeted Owens before ), Schmidt, Tony Brown... just 3 I can think of who have outright said decisions were wrong and refereeing was poor.

[@april-tui3524]

Michael Wilmot no they absolutely named officials who ‘they had problems with before, he got 3 calls wrong’ - Joe on Gardner and Cheika has said MANY things but also said re Owens: perhaps we shouldn’t have bothered with this ref, we had no chance with him....’ and much more. I’d say the coaches speaking like this bring the game into disrepute far more, particularly as the intent is to intimidate them.

[@april-tui3524]

Michael Wilmot 🙄 a ‘lowlife racist’ really? What an idiotic comment. I’m hardly the first person to bring up the race issue in rugby you fool. Do you follow the sport at all?

[@april-tui3524]

Michael Wilmot weak men like you love to argue with women online but I notice you’ve not replied to any of the men.

[@april-tui3524]

Michael Wilmot you’re an idiot. I am white. If you’re here trying to dispute the racism in rugby, something discusses by a LOT of white guys in rugby btw, then I have zero time for your nonsense reverse racism crap. Bore off. Oh and yes, THEY SAID BIASED! Explicitly.

[@petelosuaniu]

He talks sense. His use of the holocaust metaphor was emotive but not scatter gun. Also, I truly believe that referees bave pre concieved notions about island players. Just as I might have about french and south africans when it comes to headbutting, eye gouging and stamping on peoples heads.

[@keenodribbles]

hate it when people have an important or strong message, but ruin the delivery of it through immature communication. twitter is famous for it, but simply swearing in everyday conversation really lessens the impact of an often important point.

[@joshkeys3620]

Can anyone post here the game between Samoa and South Africa that they're talking about? Thanks!

[@georgebartov]

Got to agree with his basic complaints the kiwis and springboks have got away with thuggery for years, the scheduling of tier 2 clubs and the lack of top class tests is corporate rugby establishments biggest failings.The guy should be able to tweet his opinion without getting banned.

[@youtahyoutes1753]

Its a fact that established Rugby Powers like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and the European Nations DON'T want to see a team like SAMOA establish itself as a LEGIT WORLD POWER in the Sport of RUGBY. The colonial mentality that Samoa cannot govern itself and therefore couldn't possibly play rugby remains. Yet Samoa has produced players who are not only playing for Samoa but are now representing NZ, Australia, Wales, England, etc. This from a Country with a population of 180,000.

[@Team_Killer_NZ]

What, nz and oz literally help fund and bring over rugby players for scholoships long term and temporary. It's nz that's going out of its way to help support Samoa and its national XV

[@hanoitripper1809]

@@Team_Killer_NZ poaching

[@Team_Killer_NZ]

@@hanoitripper1809 poaching ? 90% if both samoa and tonga are nz residents anyways 😂 they could easily decline the opportunity but they don't because its offers more then just a sport its a chance of a lifetime in the best country in the world

[@hanoitripper1809]

@@Team_Killer_NZ haha nah.. you said it yrself.. “fund and bring over”... they are enticed with the pathway of the abs.. even the super teams do it subtlely by playing meaningless games in fiji, spreading their brand and targetingyoung teens to bring over.. poaching has many forms..

[@Team_Killer_NZ]

@@hanoitripper1809 its opportunities not poaching.if you don't like it stay in the islands. Simple.

[@2valu4ever]

So true!!

[@opalfarquharson5906]

God bless you from tokoroa lol i am not samoan BUT we are all the same in Gods eyes

[@SugaMagazineChannel]

IRB have made some good changes now and its all because of Eliota! It's a start...:)

[@nevastaka]

''when you get treated like a shit by anyone,u have the right to treat them back like a shit too..hehehehe..cool,ur absolute right bro....ofa lahi atu

[@brianfuata1014]

What an eloquent and truthful speaker.

[@kazaekapri5892]

hahhaahah he said shit and you call that eloquent

[@kurtis3794]

MANU SAMOA WAT!!!!!YOU THE MAN BRO SPEAK FROM THE HEART

[@teresaniumata2742]

Go Sapolu the truth will always Win my dear these evil people have no conscious no shame and most of all they feed their children their families with the Money that belong to you dear boys.love you from Sydney Australia.

[@SaSouljah]

I was born in new Zealand live in Australia and I'm Samoan and I feel exactly the same way he's does the irb and all the top country's ie Australia and New Zealand don't want to see these south pacific island teams become better or be giving the chance to get better because they would have young kids wanting to go and play for teams Like Samoa Fiji and Tonga I've lost count of professional rugby players of south pacific island descent but it's a lot now why the he'll would they have a team from the other side of the world Argentina come and play test matches against Australia and new Zealand when the south pacific have been asking for the right for them to play test matches against Australia and new zealand for as long as I've been alive the moral of the story is the irb and referees are bias they don't want to be apart of the downfall of teams like Australian new Zealand rugby who depend on the south pacific youth to stay and want to play for them not for those south pacific island teams who don't get no airtime for there tests or have to pay for their own way to a world cup and yea that's all

[@kazaekapri5892]

You sound ignorant, do you have any Idea how many ISLAND families in New Zealand and Australia are proud and Great full for the opportunities they have been given here. With out NZ and AUZ smaller Islands like samoa would be still getting thrashed 100 nill like bak in the days.

[@thvtsydneylyf3th077]

Aussie help pac islanders in so many much more important ways yet u sit there moaning and crying about, well, who knows really from what i just read but, its this sense of entitlement thats really disgusting. Oz n NZ pretty much make these small islands, without them, rewind 100 yrs and see if that tickles ya fancy

[@phenyomolefe4162]

Why is the IRB strong arming this gentlemen? Why is there such a swift desire to silence and cripple his career. Punish a man for clear wrong doing but their rapid intent to punish him seems personal rather a professional assessment of the matters he has brought to light. Something to be thought of.

[@nickkereopa2887]

Stay loyal to your belief bro.kia kaha

[@suluamafuimaono-sapolu8284]

Fear not, freedom of expression is a fundamental human rights,xx

[@winstonk400]

And that’s why he’s a trained lawyer!

[@billymack333]

Respect to this man,some of his comments may have been poorly chosen but he had a strong argument.At times it may not have been articulated perfectly but he was communicating with passion.Any intelligent person can see his heart was in the right place. It is now the second week of 2019 RWC.DID anything change for the better for Manu Samoa?We all know this answer.

[@krysaliyah]

Billy Mack what was inarticulate about how he answered any of the questions, and who are you to say his comments were poorly chosen? He chose them because they were what he felt he needed to address, not what YOU or anyone else wanted him to address. Get a life!

[@billymack333]

krysaliyah Hey buddy,can you read?First words”Respect to this man”.I’m supporting him and Manu Samoa.”Communicating with passion”.”Any intelligent person can see his heart is in the right place”.Is this not supporting the man?If you actually read the comment I never said he was inarticulate.Not articulating perfectly and inarticulate are NOT the same thing.Again I’m supporting this man speaking out about the way he and the team have been treated.Where is your support?Did you even watch the clip?Or maybe you should watch it again. There is only so much you can say in few sentences.

[@kuzntruth]

There's alot of injustic in the world that comes from the past and is still present in our future so for him to recognize any injustice and speak on it, there's nothing else he needs to explain.

[@jamesyelton11]

despite what you think this interview was done really well and i respect sapolus conviction but hes going the wrong way about it

[@livaitudrau7545]

Good one brother,i support you 100%...go pasifika

[@TAMATITAUA]

My Brother your right IRB and NZ rugby are also your enemy's neither of them want any pacific team to succeed,they're been trying to get rid of the Maori side but lucky we have too much support..just imagine if we had a PACIFIC LIONS side, but it wont happen because we would be a major threat to the all blacks

[@vanna8914]

Sapolu is my hero☆from Fiji

[@Kawasakifreak1]

Any credibility in the perceived injustices Samoan Rugby players may have experienced have been eroded by the way this individual expressed himself - missed opportunity ?

[@Leweyjet]

I love the Samoan team, and also have a lot of respect for Sapolu, and I feel for them and their mistreatment as well as the mistreatments and discriminations that happen to ALL of the minority teams.... but seriously, Sapolu should've come prepared with a better argument and points so that he could sound professional, and so his argument could be taken seriously. Because here he sounds like hes pulling a sooky, and pulling out cards out of spite and frustration.

[@thecuttingsark5094]

8 years later. Arguments like this still apply.

[@phenyomolefe4162]

Perhaps I would have articulated my frustrations; however he has bore the burden of the challenges at hand. To think his concerns are flawed is too assess the circumstances which gave rise to this from a muddied perspective. Salute

[@jacobfiniasi9758]

It's always the difference of Tier 1 team and Tier 2 teams.. Fiji gets bad refereeing too..

[@sinamumuta8399]

Good on you stand what you know is good for you and the Country

[@hombrewinitana8826]

Go hard bro, do your rugby team justice and what you and others believe in, mouth guards i can understand how you feel after listening to your injustices re referees and other matters, yeah go hard bro

[@beatonthedonis]

There was absolutely no chance of the lesser teams getting a fair crack of the whip in a New Zealand world cup, nor would players who compromised commercial interests get away with it. The World Cup in England was a lot fairer until Craig Joubert decided to get up to his old tricks.

[@tongandeathgrip901]

Awesome bro!!

[@stevecooper5710]

Ka pai brother👍

[@michaelspencer9605]

This is a testament that the refs in rugby are very bias and sadly racist especially when Polynesian teams play. Samoan Heritage is everywhere in rugby sad

[@dantakeoff]

SA here... Agree with you bru. The IRU is political as fuck. Well done for sticking to your guns man.

[@WickedWaiata]

The IRB needs to be made accountable for the money hungry tactics and shannigans they pull!!!

[@sialehakau1654]

Good on u mate.

[@jikoesa]

Thanks bro you the hero to speak it out.....MANU!!!!! F1J1

[@Falo73]

The same happened to Rugby Union and NRL too

[@matautia1384]

Love you brother, you got big 💓

[@tuluvota]

hahhahaha after years of bad calls.... clearly biased scheduling... name calling... etc.. is ok but say something like "IRB my bum ..kiss it" and you're frowned upon...oh the hypocricy LOL... I wouldn't have said all that if it were me... but I can understand... being treated that way for a long time... Eliota Sapolu's reaction is only natural... I am Tongan and I hear the same stories amongst the Tongan rugby community... good on you uso #TokoUso

[@billymack333]

Anybody else get the feeling the IRB/RWC committee really don’t want the All Blacks to win again? Is the RWC about crowning the best team of the day or is it BIG BUSINESS?

[@soliloquynuance7060]

No doubt this interview of Samoa's player Sapolu by New Zealand TV sporting broadcaster is certainly a gross knee-jerk reaction by the IRB to ban him from rugby for life is a camouflaged modern day draconian law suddenly enacted to defend the errors being experienced in the Rugby World Cup...how absurd! I have seen too many rugby refereeing decisions go awry and it is just a joke to have no admittance of guilt trying to make right decisions even after TMO referrals as well. This is simply hijack of the professional sport of rugby where I gather civil legal actions can dictate the outcome of these unwarranted problems. Over the years that I have played, refereed and coached rugby well before it became professional, I have experienced and witnessed some glaring biased views of rugby administration as well as refereeing go terribly skewed making a mockery that some folks are bias in their pre-conceived views of rugby where colored folks are being punished more severely than white players due to lack of understanding of these colored players. Referees can deny this fact until they go red in their faces signifying that they'll not admit their shortcomings for fear of criticisms and ridicule which are part and parcel of this duty. IRB has long been portrayed as omnipotent and untouchable which I hope they'll come to their senses and rule honestly which has brought much wrath unto themselves from the public and rugby followers.

[@redeemedstone]

Thank you John Campbell for allowing Eliota to at least explain his tweets. He could've articulated it better but he speaks the truth. It's hard not to be frustrated when you're the one living the treatment that tier 2 teams are subjected to. From the stress of walking away from lucrative contracts to be paid pennies to play for your country to try and gel with guys you've known for for 5 minutes. Then you get to the RWC and deal with biased scheduling of RWC games and the physical impact of games within days of each other, THEN asking to swallow blatantly biased decisions by dodgy referees. E le faigofie (it's not easy).

[@dannyfitzpatrick9783]

"He could've articulated it better" yet this bloke claims he has a law degree! As for "paid pennies to play for your country" that was his choice. He was well aware the Apia Big Men (which he will make sure he becomes himself) divide the free money up for themselves, not with the players. He could have said "No."

[@redeemedstone]

@@dannyfitzpatrick9783 Nope. Because its doesn't change for the next one to fill his shoes. Im not sure you understand. The top tier teams dont have to deal with the crap issues that smaller teams go through.

[@dannyfitzpatrick9783]

@@redeemedstone I saw the Samoan Rugby / Government royalty in operation here during a Sevens tournament in 2012. The team manager was a government minister, his wife was a government tourist agency official ... free tickets, dada! He did nothing during his royal tour, apart from being chauffeured about, sending coolies for food and drinks continuously, boasting subtly to me about how important he was and of his many overseas tours as minister (representing 200,000 people on an unimportant remote island!) receive other team managers and famous European union board members bearing gifts! They crave recognition and ego strokes and invite other unions to walk all over their team's interests because they are happy for the personal backhand that comes their way! Classic Big Man graft and corruption.

[@kiwinz98]

top bloke. standing up for the opressed

[@Rhys144]

I do agree with him on many points. However I wouldn't want him being my lawyer

[@J13KII]

Must be A+ in all of his english classes

[@poutukumoe5857]

prod. capz , he is a lawyer 😂

[@lavalavaz]

Hey man I understand your venting but it doesnt mean you have to offend the rest of us bro.

[@hapafalesiva2522]

stuff those refs islanders fotr life from tonga

[@frankies1698]

Don't speak another mans language, speak out normally. Good on ya Eliota

[@pangojack]

The samoan brother was a good speaker

[@lnaf1447]

Mr Campbell @7:09 you crack me up, you made my day😂

[@888rdls]

respect.

[@rapturescanlan2987]

your the man eliota so right !!!

[@sulabula75]

Gud one bro😁😁

[@solomon2093]

I love u eliota. Straight facts

[@nickhorton785]

Thanks for speaking out. I'm with you.

[@cardinia1]

Aotearoa got lol for this Uso yeah! One love bro

[@eugeneredmond2305]

Has he been banned for life?

[@treboratat]

my 16 year old daughter is getting a BA this year BA means nothing next year she starts her Masters. When I went to Uni it was for all the wrong reasons, all you need to do is regurgitate the bullshit they feed you and you will pass.

[@UceMecca]

Still getting screwed by refs in 2019

[@UnalignedCarpet]

*Cough* Bryce Lawrence *Cough*

[@pitbull5747]

Samoans are awesome.

[@davidverster9523]

Awesome shit

[@swzz-7965]

Realist words

[@MrSydneyKing]

And tell me why exactly I am a prick please?

[@eddieatum617]

Shocking !!@!!@!!!!!!!

[@petelu65]

now i understand this guys tweet...sehh Eliota jus choose tha right words 2 express ur self nxt time, n those idiots tryna banned him stop cryin over shit on twitter, sthats soooooo high school!!! lmfao

[@trevorbates8029]

Give the Polynesian's a fair go. They deserve better, play for their mob & country. They're professional not rubbish.

[@Rusty.93]

Ba Geography - University Exeter

[@solomon2093]

Im sorry I take that back. 6:49.

[@Redeemalives]

Nigel Owens is always unfair when it comes to Polynesian teams especially when the Poly teams are playing the big teams.

[@saycheeez7926]

I love this guy! Stand up brotha!

[@Irish780]

Must be most cards in rugby world cup history. And it's only the start of the quarter finals yet lol