Caucau in doghouse ~ for good?

July 29, 2005

Will the world's most exciting international rugby player ever suit up in an international Test match again?

Rugby News is reporting:

"Wayne Pivac is pledging never to select wing Rupeni Caucaunibuca again. The Fiji coach closed the door on the Agen flyer after he failed to board the plane for the side's World Cup qualifying games against Samoa and Tonga. "As far as I'm concerned (Caucaunibuca's) not being used by me anymore," Pivac told RugbyEnews. "It's strike three for him." Caucaunibuca's latest bout of bizarre behaviour saw the former Northland and Blues representative purposely miss the flight to Apia for the away fixtures after arriving at the airport ready to travel with the squad. "He actually got to the aeroplane and then didn't check in," Pivac said. "He was there with the rest of the team in his number ones, but then took his week's salary and gear and left the airport. We gave him another opportunity to get on the plane and he didn't take that - even after government officials gave him a government waiver on a visa." The 25-year-old walked away after saying he had to look after his wife, Sokoveti, who had a swollen jaw from an infected tooth. The Bua native also failed to show up for the national camps before Fiji's games against the New Zealand Maori and the All Blacks, choosing instead to uphold traditional Fijian custom and present his daughter, Karalaini, to his village. However, Pivac wasn't overly concerned that Caucaunibuca failed to make the trip. "He was that much out of condition that we probably would have had to play him at second five," he said.

Caucaunibuca, who has scored eight tries in four tests for Fiji, will be called before a Fiji Rugby Union disciplinary committee to present his case.

"A report will be through to the board with all the findings. The board can make a decision on his future with Fiji rugby," Pivac said.