Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Fiji Rugby Union has reportedly been suspended from the World Rugby Council - losing its voting rights.
It is the latest development in a continuing saga which has rocked Fiji's rugby governing body in the last two months.
However, the FRU can reportedly still send teams to all World Rugby sanctioned tournaments, including the men's Rugby World Cup in France later this year.
Last month it was revealed that the FRU board had been operating illegally.
RNZ Pacific has been informed that World Rugby made its decision in Dublin, Ireland last night.
The FRU will not be able to vote on any world rugby issue until its governance and legality issues are dealt with.
Union acting CEO Sale Sorovaki has also told FBC Sport even if Fiji loses its seat on the World Rugby Council, the national teams will still feature in tournaments.
Sorovaki said a statement from World Rugby is expected later on Friday.
Following revelations by the Suva Rugby Union last month that the FRU was not legally operating, the Fijian government, through the Minister of Justice Siromi Turaga, suspended all board members and cancelled the scheduled annual general meeting on April 19.
He has since appointed a new FRU Charitable Board of Trustees and an interim administrator to lead the work on governance and legal compliance.
Turaga told the media two weeks ago that the FRU could not be operating as a charitable trust and will need to regularise and legalise its status as a charitable trust to be consistent with the provisions of the Charitable Trusts Act 1945.
RNZ Pacific has tried to obtain comment from the FRU office in Suva.
