NIUE COACH ANGRY AT IRB DUMPING THEM FROM WELLINGTON SEVENS

NIUE COACH ANGRY AT IRB DUMPING THEM FROM WELLINGTON SEVENS

Date: 10 January 2007

Niue's been dumped from the calendar event, the Wellington Sevens, and team officials are ticked off at the IRB decision.

Coach Rick Tagelagi says he's not sure why they've been dropped from next month's showcase event but says they're not happy.

The island nation had a lot of trouble getting to the Commonwealth Games last year in Melbourne, thanks to in-house bickering over who should choose the team - the coach or rugby officials.

By the time the drama was over, there was talk of a law suit and the team had suffered. Morale was low as the players became divided and several failed to make it to Melbourne.

Rick Tagelagi, the head coach, didn't turn up either and Niue's on-field performance was shabby.

Today, no one was admitting the controversy was behind the IRB decision. Toke Talagi, from the Niue Rugby Union, did agree, though, that it's not a good look for The Rock.

Rick Tagelagi says a lot of fans will be disappointed as Niue has been the under dog team to watch.

Niue has been playing in the Sevens for five years now and has made two Bowl semi-finals and won the Bowl two years ago.