Former Cardiff Blues coach Gareth Baber is at the centre of a war of words between his Fiji bosses and their Olympic Sevens winner Ben Ryan.
Baber – who has replaced Ryan as Fiji Sevens coach – is part of a Fijian set-up that has come under fire from Englishman Ryan since he stood down after leading them to gold in Rio de Janeiro this summer.
Now, the Fijian Rugby Union have hit back and told Ryan to “move on” and give Baber “a chance” instead of firing shots from the sidelines.
Baber, a former Wales Sevens captain and coach, is due to take up his post in Fiji in the New Year.
Fiji Rugby Union CEO John O’Connor said: “The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) wishes to express its disappointment at Ben Ryan’s constant remarks about our Vodafone Fiji 7s Team and his ongoing tweets about the performance of the team.
“While, the FRU appreciates Ben Ryan’s contribution to Fiji Rugby and the success we have achieved through his leadership of the 7s Team, he has chosen to move on to other challenges which we respect and all have accepted but it seems it is difficult for him to move on.
“The FRU has also appointed a new coach, Gareth Baber, and he will lead the Fiji Mens 7s Team moving forward and we all need to give Baber a chance including Ben Ryan. It is no longer Ben Ryan’s team and Ben must understand this and he must allow our new coach Baber to deal with the issues in relation to his team.
“All the players that were selected for the first leg of the IRB Series revolved around Ben Ryan’s extended squad. Their employment contracts with FRU expired after the Olympics. They, however, have all been paid their relevant allowances while in camp and while on tour for the two tournaments.”
The row – between the coach who steered the Islanders to a first Olympic gold in the nation’s history and the current set-up – began when Ryan criticised the FRU for failing to give contracts to the players involved in the opening two rounds of the World Rugby Sevens Series.
‘A fantastic effort by Fiji at @CapeTown7s @WorldRugby7sseries. FRU – please start paying these amazing men. No one contracted again,’ tweeted the 45-year-old from London.
Ryan, who is regarded a national hero in Fiji and was given a three-acre plot of land on the island to reward his success, hit back at the union he served for three years.
‘What a ridiculously childish statement. I’ve only said positive things about everyone and one tweet that tells the truth hits a chord,’ he tweeted.
‘Ps @fijirugby If you want me to step back perhaps you should extend the gesture and remove my photo from your top banner on your website!’
Ryan’s time at the helm of Fiji’s sevens team delivered back-to-back World Series wins and the Olympic gold medal, secured after Team GB were overwhelmed 43-7 in the final.
He has since been performing ambassadorial and advisory roles and had been linked with a coaching post on next summer’s British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, although that possibility has since been discounted by Warren Gatland.