The Fiji Rugby Union has reportedly been suspended from the World Rugby Council, effectively removing its voting rights.

It is the latest twist in a saga that has rocked Fiji’s rugby governing body over the last two months.

The FRU, however, can reportedly still send teams to all World Rugby sanctioned tournaments, including the men’s Rugby World Cup later this year in France.

The FRU board was discovered to be operating illegally last month.

World Rugby made its decision last night in Dublin, Ireland, according to RNZ Pacific.

The FRU will be unable to vote on any global rugby issue until its governance and legal issues are resolved.

FBC Sport has also been informed by Union acting CEO Sale Sorovaki that even if Fiji loses its seat on the World Rugby Council, the national teams will continue to compete in tournaments.

Sorovaki expects World Rugby to issue a statement later on Friday.

Following Suva Rugby Union revelations last month that the FRU was not legally operating, the Fijian government, through Minister of Justice Siromi Turaga, suspended all board members and cancelled the April 19 annual general meeting.

Since then, he has appointed a new FRU Charitable Board of Trustees as well as an interim administrator to oversee governance and legal compliance.

Turaga told the media two weeks ago that the FRU could not be operating as a charitable trust and that it would need to regularise and legalise its charitable trust status in order to comply with the provisions of the Charitable Trusts Act 1945.

RNZ Pacific attempted to contact the FRU office in Suva for comment.

Info source – RNZ