11 Jan 2017

Sport: Fiji Rugby says no one nominated Ryan for awards

3:23 pm on 11 January 2017

The Fiji Rugby Union says no local affiliates nominated Olympic Gold medal winning coach Ben Ryan for their inaugural awards.

Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan

Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan Photo: PHOTOSPORT

This week's nomination announcement was conspicuous not for who was on the list but for who wasn't.

Ryan, who led the Fiji sevens team to consecutive world series titles and an historic Olympic gold medal at the Rio Games in 2016, was omitted from the coach of the year nominees.

Local club coaches Max Hughes, Akuila Nasi and Esala Nauga are the finalists for the award.

The omission came after Ryan, who resigned as coach after the Olympics, and the FRU had a public spat over player contracts.

But FRU CEO John O'Connor told local media that Ryan wasn't shortlisted because no clubs had nominated him.

The FBC reports the FRU has still nominated Ryan for coach of the year at the Fiji Sports Awards which take place February 17.

The nominations were submitted for that award in early December.

Earlier this week, Ryan won the Rugby Union Writer's Club's achievement award in London.

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