Sorovaki banned from country

Former Manawatu rep Sale Sorovaki would like to return to New Zealand to finish his rugby coaching certificate.

But there is a problem. His wife is the daughter of Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama and under the sanctions imposed by the New Zealand government, Sorovaki cannot get entry because of his close family relationship.

Now 40, Sorovaki played centre for Massey University from 1988 to 1992 when he was studying for his commerce degree. During that time he would return home to play internationals for Fiji.

After playing for Wellington in 1993, he went on to play four years in Japan for the Kintetsu club.

Now he works for Colonial Insurance and spends up to half of his year tending to the finances of the 3000 Fijian soldiers in the British Army.

Sorovaki is the assistant coach of the Suva team, and of Fiji's B side, Pacific Warriors in the Pacific regional competition.

He will also coach the Suva President's XV against the Highlanders at Lautoka next Saturday.

Sorovaki has also been a Fiji TV commentator for the past five years.

Another TV and radio commentator in Suva with Manawatu connections is former teacher Graham Eden.

Now aged 75, he has been in Fiji since 1961 after playing for the Palmerston North Boys' High School 1st XI and 1st XV in 1952. Ian Colquhoun was his mentor there.

His sister, Shirley Vining, lives in Palmerston North.

Eden has been doing TV work in Fiji since the medium began there in 1987, when he used voice-overs from his radio commentaries.

- © Fairfax NZ News