Fijian Drua waiting to get a lift to their hotel in Auckland late at night. Photo: Facebook
Fijian rugby fans have rallied behind the Fijian Drua after reports about their "totally unacceptable" treatment in New Zealand leading up to their round 3 Super Rugby Pacific game against the Hurricanes.
As first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, the players in the Fiji-based Super Rugby franchise had to pile into the back of a luggage truck to get to their hotel on arrival in Auckland close to midnight.
The Drua, who were pipped 38-34 by the hosts, were also refused a late check-out ahead of the 4pm game.
But according to the Sydney Morning Herald, the Drua later learned the Hurricanes were able to stay at the hotel until just before the kick-off.
Super Rugby Pacific has put the blame on breakdowns in communication following a review of the events leading up to the game, but said those issues had been addressed with the clubs and an external transport provider.
Drua chief executive Mark Evans told RNZ Pacific the franchise is moving on, despite setbacks they faced in New Zealand.
Evans said they are happy with how Super Rugby had responded to their complaint and they have left it behind them.
However, Fijian rugby supporters and commentators have taken to social media forums, demanding that those responsible for the poor treatment of the Fijian players "be held accountable" as well as offer "an official apology".
"Unacceptable!," wrote Anare Vuta on the Fiji Rugby Landscape Facebook group, which has over 56,000 members.
"This is supposed to be a professional league? Those responsible for their treatment should be fired. Very, very unprofessional from the city and especially the country. ALL teams should be held to the same standard!"
Another fan, Albert Morell, said: "If this was one of the Australian or NZ franchises sports media in the South Pacific would be baying for blood that such poor treatment could be afforded to one of their teams."
Waisale Qalulu added: "Super Rugby Pacific this is unacceptable. All the heads that sit on top please someone needs to be held accountable."
Teivovo magazine wrote: "Can you imagine packing one of the NZ based teams into a delivery truck in the Nadi heat? The worst thing about this is they have obviously tried to cover it up!"
Former Flying Fijians and Crusaders winger and Wallaby Lote Tuqiri have also slammed Super Rugby Pacific's mistreatment of the Drua players.
"Every time a Super Rugby franchise visits Fiji, they're treated like royalty, with police escorts and top-tier hospitality," Nadolo wrote in a Facebook post.
"Can you imagine an Australian or New Zealand team ever being put through something like this?" he asked.
Tuqiri told AAP that a Super Rugby team cannot be treated how the Fijian players were treated.
"They're not an under-11s or under-12s team who have put funds together (for a junior road-trip).
"They're a professional outfit and they should be treated accordingly."
Drua's general manager (rugby) Baden Stephenson told fijivillage.com the Drua have gone through the right channels in a respectful way and are now satisfied that the issues have been acknowledged and learned from.
The Fijian Drua host the Chiefs in Lautoka on Saturday.
