Sport: Sacked Tonga 7's coach hasn't been paid

Transcript

The sacked coach of the Tonga sevens team says he has not been paid during his 18 months at the helm.

World Rugby suspended funding to the Tonga Rugby Union at the start of the year after key staff members, including the interim CEO, high performance manager and 'Ikale Tahi coach were shown the door.

Sevens coach Andy Katoa told Vinnie Wylie he was informed by interim chair Fe'ao Vunipola two weeks ago that he too was out of a job.

ANDY KATOA: It's been tough the last couple of days and so but we have a new chairman, we have new members of the board and it was their call. They were selected to make decisions and they're making decisions and I'm wishing everybody all the best. I'd rather it be me but I think what we have in store here - the team they're taking to Hong Kong - I wish them all the best and I hope they do well.

VINNIE WYLIE: How long were you coach of the Tonga sevens team?

AK: I came on on October 2014.

VW: And your contract was until?

AK: It was through 2016.

VW: The goal obviously of getting the team on the World Series and the upcoming Olympic qualifiers as well - those were your objectives for this year?

AK: Absolutely, those are what we we've been working towards and putting in the hard yards. Kids were committed and TRU was committed to a certain extent - their hands were tied with certain things as far as funding and what they could commit to us and all that but my staff...we had managed to move ahead and get a lot of things done without the help of TRU. Now they have the opportunity to move onto Hong Kong and see what happens.

VW: When were you informed that you were no longer coach?

AK: I was told that there was going to be some movements going on and then I think it was a couple of weeks ago that they made it official.

VW: What reasons were you given for your dismissal?

AK: Just from speaking with the TRU (and interim chair Fe'ao Vunipola), they've decided to move in a different direction and that's totally fine. I can't go into it any further and right now I just wish everybody the best. I want people to continue to support Tonga Rugby - these kids have worked hard and made some tremendous sacrifices in hard hard situations to be where they are right now. The team that they're taking to Hong Kong, I think there's only two of those guys from my original team from New Zealand, that we lost in the final against Australia, but I think they've managed to put a real good team together with a different coaching staff and that and I really really wish the the best to be honest with you, absolutely.

VW: A lot of staff, not just yourself obviously, have lost their positions and there's a lot of changes and there's a big meeting with World Rugby coming up. What would your message to Tongan and Pacific rugby fans looking on wondering 'what's going on?'

AK: You know the problem that we've been having, it's something that can be solved. Those issues can be resolved. There's always that outside chance of us not complying to what the standard is and what to comply within. I really think that...there a bright future here - that's why I'm here. There's so much potential here, so much to work with and I think it's just a matter of everybody having the same goal, the same mindset, putting their own differences aside and concentrating on what's better for not the TRU but what's better for the country, instead of everybody's own agenda because we're never going to get any better if we continue to do that.

VW: There is of course an Olympic final qualifier in June. Is there still a chance you could be involved come that tournament?

AK: I hope so. We had two goals that we set out to reach but hopefully it works out that way - there's still a possibility.

VW: And then just finally, one of the things that Fe'ao Vunipola has said is with this funding freeze no TRU staff have been paid since January. Is that the case for you as well - have you been paid in 2016?

AK: I haven't been paid.

VW: So you were paid up until the end of 2015 and when this funding freeze came in place no payment since then?

AK: I haven't been paid at all.

VW: In 18 months in charge of the team?

AK: Yeah.