Sport: Outgoing Fiji Rugby CEO denies being forced to quit

Transcript

The outgoing CEO of the Fiji Rugby Union denies he was forced to resign and says he's leaving because he's achieved what he set out to do.

Radrodro Tabulevu was only appointed 15 months ago and his exit continues a high turnover rate at Fiji House, with five people having filled the position on a permanent or temporary basis in the past four and a half years.

But he told Vinnie Wylie it was his decision to quit and says now is the right time to go.

RADRODRO TABUALEVU: I'd come in about 15 months ago. [I] was brought in by the previous board to attend to a few issues that were current at that point in time: chief amongst which was the finalisation or the clarities around our sponsorship deal and after that the key objectives was to qualify [the sevens team] for Rio and then prepare a team for the World Cup. 15 months later that's been achieved and it's time to move onto other things.

VINNIE WYLIE: You mention coming in under the previous board. Have you had issues with the current board, led by Francis Kean?

RT: No. New board come in [and] I had started work in the previous board. I think one of the key things in the previous board was the outstanding AGM of the Fiji Rugby Union: we were able to resolve that and then we successfully voted in the current board in that AGM.

VW: Boards and CEOs at the Fiji Rugby Union seem to be turned over with very frequent regularity: you're the fifth CEO - be it acting or permanent - in the past four and a half years and there's been a lot of chairman as well. How difficult does that make it for stability in an organisation like the Fiji Rugby Union?

RT: I think one of the key steps has been taken earlier this year. At the special AGM of the Fiji Rugby Union there was a unanimous decision for the board now to have terms of four years, as opposed to two years before, and that the board is to run from World Cup to the next World Cup year, so that should provide a basis for more stability here on in.

VW: In your position have you had conflict with higher powers in terms of being able to do your job or are you telling me now you've been able to do your job as you wish?

RT: I've been able to achieve things I've wanted to achieve. Now it's back to the family business to try and shore that up so I'm confident I will be welcome back at Rugby House whenever there's a need to be back.

VW: You leave the FRU at a very interesting time. A lot of people were very complimentary of their World Cup performance, the qualifying process means that Fiji are all but assured of making the 2019 tournament and in the past few days confirmation as well that Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have a seat from next year on the World Rugby Council so quite an exciting time to be leaving?

RT: Yes and if I may be allowed to be selfish we've achieved key milestones and the last thing we want is to have complacency creep in so perhaps it's a good time pass it on to
someone who's coming in with a new vigour.