Super Rugby Pacific boss slams alleged racial abuse and demands life ban

Mick Byrne, head coach of Super Rugby Pacific side Fijian Drua, has hit out at the racial abuse allegedly aimed at one of his players.

Super Rugby’s governing body SANZAAR has launched an investigation into an alleged racial slur directed at Drua scrum-half Frank Lomani by a Melbourne Rebels supporter during Friday’s encounter between the teams.

Red carded

This, after the Fijian international was red carded in the 58th minute when he elbowed Rebels lock Josh Canham on the back of his head at a ruck. Lomani was left shaken by the incident with the fan which took place while he was sitting on the Drua‘s replacement bench after he was sent off.

Stan Sport cameras caught footage of Lomani turning around to spectators in the crowd while he was sitting on the bench.

“It’s a disgrace,” Byrne told the Sydney Morning Herald. “Our players need to be protected. It’s ridiculous that someone is going to come to a game and stoop to that level in 2024.

“It should be a safe place for players. They are doing their best every weekend.”

Meanwhile, SANZAAR tournament director Matt Barlow issued a statement to the SMH in which he said: “The tournament has been made aware of a potential off-field incident between a player and spectator during the second half of the Melbourne Rebels versus Fijian Drua match on Friday (April 5) evening and is investigating.”

The Rebels contacted the Drua on Saturday morning regarding the incident and are assisting with the investigation. Former Rebels chief executive Baden Stephenson, who lost his job after the Super Rugby Pacific outfit went into voluntary administration in February, is also examining the incident in his new position as interim general manager of the Drua.

A Drua supporter, Neisau Tuidraki, who attended Friday’s game in Melbourne, posted about the incident on X formerly known as Twitter.

“Absolutely disgusted with a group of Rebel supporters who threw racial slurs at Frank Lomani tonight,” Tuidraki wrote.

“They were becoming more obnoxious as they drank. So when Frank came off they proceeded to scream at him ‘F— off’ and then the cherry on top ‘black c– ’. AAMI security were hopeless, the Drua supporters asked security to eject them all.”

A male spectator was ejected from AAMI Park after the alleged incident.

Byrne urged that the culprit receives a lifetime suspension and said support had been offered to Lomani.

“You lose your right to come and watch the football live,” he said. “If they’re able to get hold of this guy and he is a Rebels member, then I would expect him to no longer be a member of the Rebels. Watch it at home in the safety of your own lounge room and you can say what you like because no one can hear you.

“There’s never been a reason to say it but in 2024, you have to be aware that it’s unacceptable behaviour. It’s ridiculous. These Fijian players provide some of the best spectacles of the game… and yet they’re exposed to this low behaviour. It blows my mind.

Happy with Rebels’ reaction

“From our perspective, we were happy with the Rebels reaching out on Saturday morning saying they are investigating it. I’ve had a chat to him since then. He’s a strong man.

“I would like to think they are trying to make a statement around support. He shouldn’t ever come to another game of rugby.”

The Drua finished the match against the Rebels with 13 men after Jone Koroiduadua was also red carded in their 41-20 defeat.

READ MORE: ‘Black c**t’ – Fiji star reportedly racially abused after red card for ‘cheap shot’