Fiji has ramped up overtures to rugby sevens coach Ben Ryan, giving him land and a chiefly title to keep the popular Englishman in the South Pacific island nation.
Ryan has become the most venerated person in Fiji since guiding them to their first Olympic medal when they won the rugby sevens gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Games earlier this month.
He has already been awarded Fiji’s highest civilian honor, the Companion of the Order of Fiji, and moves are under way to give Ryan and his family Fijian passports.
The 44-year-old has been swamped with lucrative offers around the world since his Olympic success and has signaled he will look for new challenges elsewhere.
However, authorities in cash-strapped Fiji say they are doing everything they can to get Ryan to change his mind.
Villagers in Serua, one of the 14 provinces of Fiji, on Monday gave Ryan a 1.2 hectare plot of land and the title Ratu, which is used by Fijians of chiefly rank.
Ryan has made no secret that he likes the uncluttered Fiji way of life.
He told the people of Serua that unlike overseas teams who have analysts and abundant resources, Fiji has talent in abundance and the players were his resources.
“We have no analysts and computers, because I have 12 mighty computers, they’re the boys that play,” he said.
Ryan has said that if discussions with the immigration department are successful, passports could change his mind about leaving Fiji permanently, because his wife also wanted to stay and work.
“If the passport comes, that means suddenly she’s allowed to work here and that’s the sort of thing that might mean we have a return here,” he said.
“The prime minister had spoken to me about that, I just need to send him some confirmation that I want it and they will activate it,” Ryan said.
“So yeah, if I can get that before I leave, that will be pretty awesome, and if I do come back it will make things so much simpler for permit and visas for me and my wife,” he added.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and