THERE are differing views on same-sex relationships in a national rugby team, but team members make choices that team management cannot force them to change.

This was the view of former politician and current Naitasiri Rugby Union president Peceli Rinakama following Laijipa Naulivou’s termination from the Fiji Rugby Union Board for taking a stand against same-sex relationships in the Fijiana team.

Rinakama said the controversy stems from differing viewpoints on same-sex relationships, with some holding religious objections while others emphasise individual rights.

“From a religious point of view, lesbianism is wrong but in actual fact along with a democratic right of a person, we cannot force somebody to not be a lesbian,” he said.

He suggested that the FRU encourage some form of professional counselling to players if their personal issues are affecting the performance of the team.

“They just need proper counselling. People can have differing opinions, but we just have to accept it, they are still humans, we can’t force our beliefs on them, so we just have to come together and look at the way forward.

“That is the most important thing to do, counselling. We should get specialists who are good at the job to talk, counsel the women’s and men’s teams so that when they leave our shores, they know the purpose they are going for and do their part. They will be psychologically prepared ready to compete in any world event,” he added.

The former schoolteacher stressed the need for acceptance and understanding especially in a global sport like rugby.

“Let me give you a scenario, what if a player who is a lesbian who has the knowledge and skills and scores a try in every match, will we still criticise her? I do not think so because we all like to win.”

He believes that counselling underscores the importance of creating a supportive environment for all players, regardless of their sexual orientation, to ensure their well-being and optimal performance on the field.