New Zealand won't relax Fiji travel ban

New Zealand politicians have refused to budge on travel bans against Fijian military personnel during this year's World Cup, even though the measures may impact Fiji's team selection.

Fiji's Olympic chief has raised the prospect of Fiji boycotting the tournament and has called on the International Rugby Board to move Fiji's matches from New Zealand to circumvent the sanctions, in place since a 2006 military coup.

The IRB asked New Zealand to relax the ban but World Cup minister Murray McCully said he had confirmed to the new chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union, Fiji land forces commander Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga that those banned included some rugby players and officials.

"Our position has been quite clear," McCully said. "The recently-elected chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union had something to say about that publicly. He wanted some clarification. I told him that banned meant banned."