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Nazvi Careem

The chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union, Francis Kean, was reportedly refused a visa to enter the United States to watch his team at the Rugby World Cup Sevens because of a previous manslaughter conviction.
The 52-year-old former navy commander was unable to join the thousands at the AT&T Park in San Francisco – home of baseball’s Giants – who watched Olympic champions Fiji’s 35-10 victory over Japan in their opening round of 16 match.
According to rebel Fijian blogger Shailendra G Raju, Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is furious his brother-in-law was denied entry into the US.

“Angry PM wanted to know why US denied visa to FRU chairman … for the 7s World Cup. He has been advised that it is due to the 2007 manslaughter conviction of Francis Kean,” wrote Raju.
When approached for comment, World Rugby referred any inquiries to the Fiji Rugby Union, which has yet to respond.
In January 2006, Kean was charged with the murder of John Whippy, a salesman who had just married Ateca Bainimarama, the daughter of the prime minister.
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018: Fiji crush Japan to reach quarter-finals in San Francisco; All Blacks and USA also through
The charge was later reduced to manslaughter and in October 2007, after pleading guilty, Kean was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He served one week of his sentence.
It is not the first time Kean has been stopped from travelling because of his conviction. He was also refused a visa by the United Kingdom government to attend the 2015 Rugby World Cup 15s tournament.

In 2011, the New Zealand government said it would refuse to grant a visa for Frank Bainimarama because the Fijian military government was under sanctions and the prime minister was unelected.
Former Fijian sevens coach Ben Ryan mentions Kean in his recently released book, Sevens Heaven: The Beautiful Chaos of Fiji’s Olympic Dream, about his time in Fiji leading up to and including their Olympic triumph in Rio in 2016.
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018: Fiji A v Japan’s Fiji B puts Pacific Island talent drain in the spotlight
Ryan writes about how Kean tried to force two rugby players into the Englishman’s squad.
“One morning Kean came to the gym in Suva where I was training the boys … A soldier on either side of him, both in uniform. Ben, these two men are in your next training squad. I knew I could not face him down but that I could not step back either. OK, they can train with us today. Then I will send them home, knowing that the feedback would arrive … that they were not good enough.

“It was a shot across the bows from Kean: I have this power. A few months later, it was announced that he was going to be made chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union. At the AGM, a loophole had been discovered – you can only vote for the chairman if you have brought your region’s full accounts for the year, and hey! Only Suva have theirs, so only Suva can vote, and Suva seems to have voted for their own chairman.
Broken marriage, friendships lost and forged and Olympic glory: Ben Ryan talks about the ‘Beautiful Chaos’ of Fijian rugby – Part 1
“A shot back from me. An email to World Rugby: one of your national unions is about to appoint a chairman who has served time for manslaughter. This is the man who you’ll be paying to fly over for the England vs Fiji match, where he’ll have the best seats at Twickenham and a five-star hotel that you will also be paying for. He’ll be the man you deal with for the next four years whenever you deal with rugby in Fiji. The reply from World Rugby: this is an internal matter.
“Kean couldn’t go in the end, a travel ban still in place from his conviction. He sent two board members instead.”
Half a year without pay, appointing a ‘troublemaker’ and the Hong Kong Sevens: Ben Ryan on his Fiji odyssey – Part 2


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Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018: All Blacks haka after win vs England caps incredible New Zealand turnaround

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018: Fiji chief Francis Kean shut out of San Francisco with US visa denied ‘over manslaughter conviction’

Fijian fans at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco. Photo: EPA

Ben Ryan, former Fiji rugby coach poses for photographer in Wan Chai. 14OCT16 SCMP / Edmond So

epa06901751 Katsuyuki Sakai (C) of Japan in action against Josua Tuisova of Fiji (R) during the Rugby World Cup Sevens Round of Sixteen match between Japan and Fiji in San Francisco, California, USA, 20 July 2018. EPA-EFE/MONICA DAVEY

Francis Kean (right) with Prime Minister and FRU president Frank Bainimarama on the left).

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018: Fiji crush Japan to reach quarter-finals in San Francisco; All Blacks and USA also through

Fiji are off to a winning start in San Francisco. Photo: Benjamin Sieur

epa06901752 Sevuloni Mocenacagi (L) of Fiji in action against Jose Coyickal Seru (R) of Japan during the Rugby World Cup Sevens Round of Sixteen match between Japan and Fiji in San Francisco, California USA, 20 July 2018. EPA-EFE/MONICA DAVEY

Members of the China team leave the field aftyer their 7-38 loss to the US during their women's round of 16 games at the Rugby Sevens World Cup in the AT&T Park at San Francisco, California on July 20, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON

France's Tavite Veredamu, right, runs past players from Australia to score during the Rugby Sevens World Cup in San Francisco, Friday, July 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Rugby World Cup Sevens: Fiji ‘Dream Team’ must deliver in San Francisco or 2018 will be wasted

Fiji captain Jerry Tuwai is crucial to his side’s World Cup chances. Photo: AP

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Fiji's Eroni Sau tackled by South Africa players during the Cup semi-final on the third and final day of the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at the Hong Kong Stadium on April 08, 2018. 08APR18 R7 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Fiji's coach Gareth Baber on the third and final day of the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at the Hong Kong Stadium on April 08, 2018. 08APR18 R7 SCMP / Antony Dickson

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Francis Kean, chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union, is denied a US visa for this weekend’s San Francisco tournament, with Fijian prime minister ‘angry’
