'Epeli Taione

The Tonga Rugby Union's 'Epeli Taione told Matangi Tonga on May 7 that a move by some members of the board to remove him as the TRU Chairman along with the TRU Chief Executive Officer, 'Emeline Tuita was unlawful and unconstitutional.

'Epeli said he would ignore the behavior of the board members and concentrate on urgent tasks, such as getting the national teams ready for a Seven-a-side tournament to held in the United Kingdom this month, and the 'Ikale Tahi in the Pacific Nations Cup later this month. "I apologize to people who love rugby for this in-house governance problem," he said.

He insisted that he does not recognize a vote to remove him because he believed a special board meeting was unlawful and unconstitutional.

The special board meeting called by Soape Tu'iono and others on April 10, without the President and the CEO, made a unanimous decision to remove  'Epeli and 'Emeline from their positions. They claimed that the President breached the Code of Conduct of the board. Kaitu'u Fotu was made an interim CEO

Kaitu'u called for a Special General Meeting to be held on Friday, May 3 at the Basilica for the removal of the President of the TRU. 'Epeli attended this meeting and told the gathering that he would voluntarily step down "if  they were capable of running the Tonga Rugby Union, but they are not".

The meeting voted 29-10 on a motion to remove 'Epeli. However, this was short of the requirement of the constitution, which is supposed to be 75% of the 54 members who attend the meeting.

Meanwhile, Soape on  May 7 declared that he is the Acting Chairman, and that this week formally announced the dismissal of 'Epeli as the President of the TRU. He confirmed that their legal counsel had advised them that their vote of 29-10 on 3 May was still standing.