Fiji's World Cup participation appears secure © Getty Images

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News: Fiji's World Cup in doubt?

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: Fiji

The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) board has stepped down after the military government issued the ultimatum: leave or we will not fund the team's Rugby World Cup campaign.

Sports Minister Filipe Bole met with the FRU board on Thursday to discuss allegations that they had mismanaged a lottery for World Cup tickets, one that was supposed to fund Fiji's trip to New Zealand for the international showpiece.

Bole had earlier called for the resignation of the FRU board and management over the issue and he forced their hand by refusing to provide the necessary F$3 million unless they quit.

An investigation by the Fiji Commerce Commission allegedly found irregularities in the FRU accounts with regards to the lottery, with less than half of 100,000 tickets reportedly accounted for, and a discrepancy between the projected income of tickets that had been sold and the actual amount in the FRU account.

Speaking after the meeting with FRU chief executive Keni Dakuidreketi and interim chairman Rafaele Kasibulu, who took over from Bill Gavoka following the initial warning on Tuesday, Bole said: "Because of the strong support shown by the public and government for FRU team to go to the Rugby World Cup - we have undertaken to give a grant to the FRU of F$3 million - we have confirmed that today, the decision of the grant to FRU - however how that is going to be drawn down is to be done by our own Ministry of Finance together with the rugby union."

Reports in New Zealand suggested that the ultimatum was influenced by regime leader Voreqe Bainimarama due to a feud with Dakuidreketi. But IRB general manager for Oceania, William Glenwright, said in a statement that there were no grounds for an IRB suspension of Fiji due to government interference.

"Until appropriate evidence is presented the IRB believes the specific issue raised by the Government relating to the FRU Lottery is entirely a matter between the Commerce Commission and the Fiji Rugby Union and does not require IRB intervention," Glenwright said. "However, should any evidence of maladministration be brought to the attention of the IRB then it will be investigated."