World Rugby bans messages on strapping in Sevens

World Rugby bans messages on strapping in Sevens

By Rusiate Baleilevuka
Thursday 30/11/2017

World Rugby has confirmed it has introduced rules which ban players from writing messages on strapping worn on their wrists in matches in the Sevens World Series.

The move was revealed by New Zealand players who said they had been warned they could be fined up to $1,000 for breaking the rule which bans the appearance of any messages ‑ personal, religious or political ‑ on strapping tape.

The New Zealand Rugby Players Association has said that the rule was "buried" in a participation agreement signed by teams ahead of the season‑opening tournament in Dubai and had not previously been announced to players or national rugby unions.

World Rugby has defended the move, saying it is necessary to make sevens rugby compliant with International Olympic Committee regulations which ban athletes from wearing any unauthorized slogans, logos, messages or symbols.

Sevens became an Olympic sport for the first time at last year's Rio Games.

World Rugby said in a statement that there has been a significant increase in strapping art or messages in the series in recent seasons which is impossible to police for inappropriate or political statements by the match officials in the short period of time before entering the field in a sevens environment across multiple matches and in multiple languages.

World Rugby says while it recognizes that the overwhelming majority of the messages are appropriate and that is something that the players enjoy doing, there have been a small number of occasions where messages have gone unchecked and caused offense to teams, nations, commercial partners etc.

World Rugby says this is a common‑sense approach that has been accepted by all participating teams.

But NZ Rugby Players Association chief executive Rob Nichol said the ban was "poorly implemented" and he would work to have it repealed.

He says it makes the game and themselves look a bit stupid.

Nichol says by just unilaterally making this decision and then imposing it on the athletes, that's just completely contrary to the values and the character of the game.

Nichol said he did not believe the writing of messages on strapping tape was a major problem as most messages were of a personal, not a political nature

He says he would say 99.9 percent of athletes that do it, there is nothing wrong with what they write.

Source: RadioNZ

FNRL
FEATURE NEWS
Bullet casing discovered on Sydney to Nadi flight
Police are currently conducting their investigation after an empty bullet shell casing was found on a Fiji Airways flight that arrived in Nadi from Sy...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Nationwide consultation next in Education Act review – Radrodro
We are committed to building an education system that is modern, inclusive, and effective for all Fijians. Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro ...
1 hour ago

$43.1m paid to students for Back to School Support
A total of $43.1 million has been successfully distributed to 213,520 students for Back to School Support for the 2025 school year, through M-PAiSA, ...
1 hour ago

No major short-term economic fallout from US tariff – Prof. Prasad
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad says they do not expect a major fallout for Fiji’s economy in the short to ...
1 hour ago

Trump threatens 50% tariffs on China following trade standoff
The United States President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new 50 percent tariffs on Chinese imports if Beijing does not lift its retaliatory ...
5 hours ago

National Budget consultation starts this Thursday
The Ministry of Finance has announced a series of face-to-face public consultations in the lead-up to the formulation of the 2025-2026 National ...
5 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Top Interventional Cardiologist Dr Kapadia on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The show will focus on health services in the country. The former Marist Brothers Primary and High School student who has been practising medicine ...
1 day ago

Supervisor of Elections on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The interview focus on preparations for the 2026 general elections, voter related issues, electoral laws, the 2022 glitch and the municipal council ...
1 day ago

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Coach, Glen Jackson on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Coach, Glen Jackson appeared on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan from the Drua base in Nadi. Coming off ...
5 days ago

TOP