By Stephen Barry

The Chairman of the Tongan Rugby Union Epi Taione has blasted the Rugby World Rankings as being “worked out in a gypsy caravan park in Ireland somewhere” as part of a broadside against World Rugby.

The former international criticised World Rugby, which has its headquarters in Dublin, for mismanaging the World Cup, claiming they unfairly treat the emerging nations in the organisation of the World Cup and distribution of finances.

It’s a part of what Taione, a veteran of the 1999 and 2007 Rugby World Cups, sees as the game’s continued “colonialist bullshit”.

“Rugby is so out of touch. It’s run by colonialists who still think they run the world like it was 100 years ago,” he told the New Zealand Herald.

“They say let's spread the game but it’s complete and utter shit.”

A particular bugbear for Taione is the uneven spread of revenue.

“They want us to compete but we get $1.58 million a year while Argentina, New Zealand and the other SANZAR countries have received $18 million before the tournament.

“The money should be evenly distributed. And we still only get one vote for all of the Pacific Island members - it should be Tonga one vote, Samoa one vote, Fiji one vote. I cannot see how our voice will be heard.

“[$1.58 million] to float a union is an insult ... Where is the even playing field? We have no home games to generate revenue and we're lucky to get one tier 1 test.

“Until they're willing to give up power, nothing will change. Until they evenly distribute the resources, they're going nowhere ... Considering the way we're treated, we compete very well."

Taoine's words seem to have had some effect as World Rugby is rumoured to be in the process of granting the Pacific Island nations individual seats on their Council.

As a player Taione legally changed his name to Paddy Power for the duration of the 2007 World Cup, as part of a sponsorship deal with the Irish bookmaker. That five-figure deal helped fund the cash-strapped Tongan’s preparations.

Such financial instabilities have endured and Taione is currently involved in a dispute with former teammate Finau Maka over a sponsorship contract involving the Tongan Rugby Union.

H/T: New Zealand Herald

Shaun Cronin, head sports reporter at breakingnews.ie, speaking with Simon Lewis, golf and rugby correspondent with the Irish Examiner, about Ireland’s clash with Italy in the RWC. Video by Dan Linehan.