Fair Game: Pacific Rugby Against the World

Rugby brings joy, money and a sense of identity to many in the Pacific Islands. But how badly are they treated by the powerful forces that run the game?

Hosted and produced by James Nokise, John Daniell and Talei Anderson

A boardroom table with black chairs positioned around a green rugby field. The backdrop features rugby goal posts and palm trees, enclosed within a decorative teal and black circular border. The RNZ logo is in the bottom left corner, and the PMN logo is in the bottom right corner. The title "FAIR GAME" is written in bold, white, brushstroke-style letters across the center of the image.

Follow this podcast

RSS
Follow onApple Podcasts Follow onSpotify Follow onIHeartRadio Follow onYouTube Podcasts

Get this podcast straight from the source in the free RNZ app: Apple App Store or Google Play

All episodes:

Mana Moana!

Episode 1
Pasifika players have brought so much to the game of rugby - what have they got in return?
An image of a number of rugby players in red and blue uniforms in a scrum - Western Samoa in blue is playing Wales in red. The picture shows a Western Samoan player emerging from the melee with the ball between his hands. Its is Matthew Vaea of Western Samoa dive passing away from a scrum during the World Cup match against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff, Wales on October 6 1991.

Money and Mate Ma’a Tonga

Episode 2
Tongan players talk about tough choices and a huge gap in resources between powerful rugby nations and the Pacific. And they ask: ''Is this structural racism?"
A photo of the Tonga team performing the Sipi Tau prior to kickoff during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between France and Tonga at Wellington Regional Stadium on October 1, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. The Tongan team is in the background facing the camera, while the French team is in the foreground, watching the performance with their backs to the camera.

Samoa: Culture and Connection

Episode 3
"We don't get the resources the big nations get." In Samoa even the school kids know the score. Has inequality become normalised?
A close up photo of Samoan prop Kas Lealamanua fending off the tackle from England's captain Martin Johnson in the Rugby World Cup pool C match between England and Samoa at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne 26 October 2003.

Fiji: Politics, Performance, and Power

Episode 4
Fijian rugby is doing better than its island neighbours but within World Rugby vast disaparites still exist between playing nations.
A photo of the Fiji team. Their backs are to the camera and the they are in a circle, with hands clasped and heads bowed in prayer prior to a match.

Women’s Rugby in the Pacific: Challenges? Did You Say Challenges?

Episode 5
Pasifika women just want to play the game they love but they're fighting for even fewer resources than their male counterparts. They're also battling to change traditional mindsets about women in rugby.
A close up photo of the Samoan Women's Rugby team, the Manusina doing their scrum practice.

Together, Apart

Episode 6
As Samoa and Fiji face off at the Pacific Nations Cup, rugby bosses say they're trying to close the gap between the top playing nations and the Pacific. And a new generation of Pasifika are ready to take their place at the table.
A photo of Ereatara Enari, Christian Leali'ifano and Taylah Johnson looking at the blue Moana Pasifika uniform during a team photo session at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand on Friday 27 May 2022.

Fair Game: Pacific Rugby Against the World

Trailer
If you have a game where the rules favour one set of teams over another - is that game fair?
Episode image