Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu
Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu is a Samoan former rugby union footballer. He played at centre. During an illustrious career, he constantly criticized the rugby establishment and publicly denounced racism, post-colonialism, white supremacy and lack of accountability from rugby's governing bodies.
Early life and education
Fuimaono-Sapolu was born in Samoa and migrated to Auckland, New Zealand, with his parents, when he was three years old. He started off at schools in Manurewa dominated by Pacific Island and Maori students. His family was very poor when they first arrived in New Zealand, living in a one-bedroom flat while both parents were studying.
He shifted to the prestigious Auckland Grammar School for high school because his parents wanted him to go to "the best boys' school in New Zealand". According to Fuimaono-Sapolu, he did not get a scholarship - he had been in accelerated classes in primary and intermediate school. "I worked and earned my own way, paid my own fees."
He said he enjoyed school until he began asking questions about what he was learning. Fuimaono-Sapolu said although his awareness of racism had been growing during his schooling, it became much clearer at university, where he first learned about the Treaty of Waitangi: "You start to realise how bad things are."
Rugby career
Fuimaono-Sapolu first played club rugby as a junior for Manurewa RFC in South Auckland, New Zealand. His coach Gary Healey commented "Eli didn't need much coaching. He was a naturally gifted player who could read the game. His commitment, discipline and sheer exuberance showed at an early age, and he was clearly destined for higher honours".
Fuimaono-Sapolu moved to England in January 2006, signed by Bath Rugby after outstanding performances in the internationals against Scotland and England. He had initially been signed as a temporary replacement to cover for the players playing in the Six Nations Championship, but soon his contract was made permanent. Since arriving at Bath he has won the approval of many fans due to his exciting running and quick hands.
More recently he displayed his all round ability in back play at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, in which he represented Samoa playing out of position at fly-half. Although his side lost to England, South Africa and – surprisingly – Tonga while beating only the USA in the pool stages of the tournament, Fuimaono-Sapolu was one of the standout performers.
In the summer of 2009 Fuimaono-Sapolu left Bath to join Gloucester Rugby on a one-year contract that was later extended for two further seasons. In 2011 Eliota completed a wonderful season by sweeping up all the club's major awards at the end of Season prize giving. He won Player of the year, Try of the Year, Player's Player of the year and Season Ticket Holder's Player of the year. In March 2012, it was announced Sapolu would leave Gloucester to sign with Japanese side Coca-Cola West Red Sparks on a two-year contract.
In 2011 he was shortlisted by the Rugby Players' Association for their Players' Player of the Year award alongside Chris Ashton, Chris Budgen, Nick Evans, Thomas Waldrom and Tom Wood.
Playing style
Primarily a centre, Fuimaono-Sapolu was a powerful physical presence in the midfield. This, combined with a precise passing game and an acute rugby brain, made him a complete back. In 2011, while playing for Gloucester, a video of an outrageous dummy playing against the Newport-Gwent Dragons went viral.
Personal life and activism
Fuimaono-Sapolu is a qualified lawyer. He has been openly critical of the sporting elite and racism, saying their attitude "buys into the narrative of the savage Polynesian". Critical of the IRB handling of his comments in 2011 he said they just wouldn't tolerate a Polynesian speaking up. "I got smashed by the IRB - it was absolutely the corporate hammer coming down."
He's been vocal about racism in the sport of rugby union, and cites his time at Gloucester as an example. In 2011, after having a stellar season playing for the club, and as he was about to renegotiate the terms of his contract, he was told by the management that he couldn't be paid more than a Scottish player. “In terms of Gloucester I did really well there. I won all the awards; I won players’ player, player of the year, try of the year, season ticket holder player of the year, fan player of the year, club player of the year. I won everything, so I thought you at my next contract I can ask for something pretty decent. And I was told straight, there’s no way I could be paid more than a Scottish player. So learning all those things, having those experiences, about what really goes on in rugby, and knowing that you are never what you achieve. I will always be the stereotype in their mind that I’m not worthy of a Six Nations contract or a Tier 1 contract regardless of how I played. We are not valued for what we achieve and how good we are. We’ll always be this low-value brown person. That’s just the way it goes. It’s cheap labor. Extraordinary rugby players for an ordinary price.”
In 2016, talking about the appointment of renowned Sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens as the new head coach of the Samos Sevens team, he criticized Tietjens for not speaking the samoan language, and for what he described as a lack of understanding of the country and its culture. He also questioned why rugby's elegibility rules were so tight for players and so loose for coaches: "Tietjens’ appointment emphasises how pathetic the rugby eligibility rules are. Tietjens coached New Zealand for 22 years. 22 years! And he can change countries and coach Samoa tomorrow, a country he has absolutely no connection to. But if a Samoan/Fijian kid plays one second for New Zealand, that kid cannot play for anyone else, even excluding the country of his/her birth and the birth countries of his/her parents. We’re seeing Sevens coaches bouncing around from one team to the other, making big money off the immobility of players who are locked into a decision they made when they were young and poor. The argument against changing eligibility rules is always “it will be abused and people will chase money”. Actually that is what happens under the current rule. Rich countries entice young Polynesian players because they have the cash to, exploiting economic inequalities, and lock them in for life."
One of Fuimaono-Sapolu's dearest causes has been to fight racism in sport and education, and to support fellow Polynesians, specially the younger generations. He's also questioned the over commercialization of the All Blacks brand, stating that the All Blacks' identity "is stolen from Maori culture". Fuimaono-Sapolu has worked extensively to broaden popular knowledge of the contribution of Pacific Island culture and science. He moved to Samoa where he works on raising awareness of domestic abuse and misogynistic attitudes.
Social media and controversies
During the 2011 Rugby World Cup Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu made a Twitter post linking the scheduling of the world cup to slavery, the holocaust and apartheid, after Samoa had 3 days to prepare for their match against Wales, while Wales had a week to prepare. Officials that met with the Samoa team management accepted an official apology and decided that no further action was necessary. Later in the tournament when Samoa lost to South Africa Fuimaono-Sapolu tweeted that referee Nigel Owens was "racist" and "biased", which resulted in him being suspended from rugby for six months. However, this punishment is suspended for two years.
Fuimaono-Sapolu's use of social media has repeatedly landed him in hot water in a number of occasions, specifically with rugby's governing bodies. Also in 2011, he was handed a three-week ban by the Rugby Football Union after he criticized a disciplinary processes underwent by the entity. He's criticized other rugby players, officials, World Rugby, among others, via Twitter. He has also been critical of the lack of political engagement from professional rugby players, citing former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw as someone who could have a big influence if he got behind social issues.