Waisale Serevi announced today that a combination of longstanding work commitments and his U.S. permanent resident visa application process will keep him from the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens competition in Moscow.
“My partners and I started a business three years ago to grow the game of rugby in North America and beyond,” said Serevi. “Little did we know what immense demand there would be for professional rugby instruction. Our business is expanding rapidly and, unfortunately, that important work and the permanent visa process that will allow it to continue over the long haul will keep me from Moscow next month.” I am in Washington, DC this weekend to do rugby camps.
He continued, “I am humbled to have been asked to be part of the Fiji delegation and send my thanks to the Fiji Rugby Football Union. While I would love to be in Moscow to see Fiji compete for the World Cup, I know from having seen them in Hong Kong switched on that they have all it takes to win the World Cup. My message to the players is to “make sure that you train hard, focus on the goals to win the world cup, which I believe you can do for all Fijians back home and abroad, play like it’s the last game of your life and give it your all”. You can be sure that I will catch as much of the action as my schedule will allow and that my thoughts and prayers will be with the boys, and we wish you all the very best. Believe me, the World Cup is the best event in sports and not one that I would miss without very good reason.”
Fiji Rugby Union Chief Executive Officer Manasa Baravilala received a call from Serevi early this morning expressing his regret on not being able to join the team in Moscow. Baravilala said that he understood Serevi’sbusy schedule and accepted his decision.
“Serevi called from the Fiji Embassy in Washington DC and expressed his regret saying that he would not being able to join us in Moscow.”
“ He is unable to disengage himself from a prior rugby program and has a very busy schedule, and I understand and accept his decision. I thanked him on behalf of the Fiji Rugby Union and Fiji Rugby fans for his commitment and passion to Fiji Rugby.”
“We are very proud of Serevi’s accomplishments on and off the field culminating in his March induction into IRB’sHall of Fame in our centennial year and, from the Fiji Rugby Union and fans in Fiji and around the world, we wish him and his family all the best.”
FRU