Rugby World Cup: Tuigamala weighs in on Twitter controversy

Former Samoa and All Blacks winger Inga Tuigamala. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post

Former Samoa and All Blacks star Inga 'the winger' Tuigamala has praised the IRB for a "common sense" approach to a Samoan rugby player who compared the Rugby World Cup scheduling with the Holocaust and apartheid.

Samoan centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu came under fire for his Twitter rants on Tuesday, regarding the "unfair" playing scheduling for smaller nations at the tournament.

But Tuigamala told Radio Sport it was the right call for the IRB not to punish the player.

"It's one player who has voiced his opinions so I don't think the whole team should be penalised for it. The IRB is starting to listen and put things into perspective."

Tuigamala said the issue has raised questions over the scheduling, but suggested it should have been discussed by rugby unions with the IRB before the World Cup began, when the rules were first outlined.

"Unfortunately it's happening to the disadvantage of the smaller teams. The World Cup is cut throat - every win is so crucial and important to the team's morale.

"The playing field is not even. Some of the biggest teams have had seven days to recover and rest players who are injured, yet it is the second-tier teams who are bringing a lot of life, colour and fun to this Rugby World Cup."

While he backed the call not to sanction Fuimaono-Sapolu, Tuigamala still took offense to some of the comments made on Twitter.

"There's no place for that kind of stuff. I would have thought these players would have learned from past players that you can't just blurt out those kind of things. You have to be accountable."

The former All Blacks winger suggested smaller teams could start to feel the strain towards the business end of the competition, while teams that are rested properly will be in prime form.

"The IRB also has to look at the safety of the players, otherwise it becomes a farce and one-sided.

"I don't have the answers, but I'm sure the players who are spilling their guts out their for the countries are looking for answers too. Lets just hope the IRB take some good lessons from this and don't repeat it in the next World Cup."

- Herald Online