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Fiji fine nightclubbers

Wellington - The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has fined six players for going out drinking at the Rugby World Cup and launched a management purge after the side's poor performance at the tournament, reports said on Friday.

Radio Fiji said national coach Samu Domoni and high performance unit manager Talemo Waqa were set to be the highest profile victims of the management clean out in the wake of the disappointing campaign in New Zealand.

It said the Flying Fijians' selection panel had already been sacked after an FRU board meeting late on Thursday.

FRU chairperson colonel Mosese Tikoitoga had ordered six players fined after they broke camp during the tournament to go drinking, contributing to the side's dismal showing, the state broadcaster reported.

"They went out nightclubbing, while some breached the clauses of their contract," Tikoitoga said.

He declined to name the players or reveal how much they had been fined.

The fijivillage.com news website reported all FRU posts would be advertised as a result of the World Cup flop.

Fiji went into the tournament with a reputation as giant killers after reaching the quarter-finals in the 1987 and 2007 editions.

But the players failed to emerge from a tough pool group after being thrashed 66-0 by Wales, 49-3 by South Africa, succumbing 27-7 to Pacific rival Samoa and leaking 25 points to unfancied Namibia in their only victory.

As a result, Fiji slipped from 12th to 16th in the world rankings but, perhaps more importantly, also dented the side's reputation for exciting, expansive rugby with a series of turgid, defensive displays.

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