The Fiji Rugby Union said in a statement on Wednesday that it had terminated Laijipa Naulivou’s appointment as director.

The move comes as women’s rights advocates criticised the “harmful and discriminatory” comments.

In the interview, Naulivou said she had also previously recommended the coach be removed, and asked for a panel be set up to select the team instead of “a person who practices lesbianism being up there and choosing her people.”

To me that is unethical and it’s not right,” she said, adding that player retention and “this gay problem” were also the main challenges facing European rugby teams.

She added that homosexuality was “one big drawback” when the Fiji women’s team participated in a previous HSBC Sevens tournament.

Naulivou, who had been asked to manage the team three weeks prior to the tournament, wrote a report following its poor performance in the tournament where she had advocated for the removal of the coach.

Fiji Women’s Rights Movement said in a statement on Tuesday that it was “appalled” by Naulivou’s comments.

“The notion that being gay is a ‘problem’ in women’s rugby is deeply troubling and perpetuates harmful stereotypes that have no place in modern sports or society,” said the group’s executive director Nalini Singh.

“Rather than focusing your efforts on the sexuality of the players, you do your job and look for adequate funding and provide for the well-being of the women rugby players so that they don’t have to sleep on benches in front of airports and walk miles to their training,” she added.

Local media previously reported that the members of the women’s team had spent a night on benches outside Sydney Airport on their way to the Dubai Sevens in 2023, while the men’s team slept in a nearby hotel. As the disparity between the treatment of the two teams sparked anger among fans, authorities attributed the incident to a “miscommunication”.

In 2016, the Fiji women’s rugby team became the first among Pacific nations to qualify for the Rio Olympics. In 2021, the team won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. But at the Paris Games last year, they were knocked out in the group stage and came in last place out of the 12 competing teams.

At the time as well, suggestions of lesbianism were blamed for causing a rift in the team.

Naulivou is a prominent figure in the local rugby scene, known for being the first captain of the women’s national team and an advocate for the inclusion of women in the male-dominated sport.

On Saturday, Naulivou was appointed as the Fiji Rugby Union’s director after her predecessor resigned for personal reasons. She has also tried to quit amid the recent controversy, the Fiji Rugby Union said.

“While she had tendered her resignation, the Board determined that a firm stance was necessary to reinforce its commitment to upholding professional standards and safeguarding the integrity of Fiji Rugby,” it said.

“Our women’s team and all players can rest assured that this will in no way impact their opportunities, representation, and continued development as integral members of Fiji Rugby.”

Five are tourists, with one from the US and the rest from Australia, aged between 18 and 56. Two others are foreigners living in Fiji, according to local media reports citing the health ministry.

Some were previously reported to be seriously ill, but local officials said on Monday that their symptoms have since improved and some were set to be discharged.

The incident comes weeks after the deaths of six tourists in the South East Asian nation of Laos because of suspected methanol poisoning.

Fiji tourism chief Brent Hill told RNZ they were keenly aware of the Laos incident, but added that the case in Fiji was “a long way from that”.

Shortly after drinking the rum cocktail at the Warwick Fiji resort on the Coral Coast, the seven guests displayed nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms.

They were initially taken to Sigatoka Hospital, and later transferred to Lautoka Hospital, according to the Fiji Times.

Fiji’s tourism minister Viliame Gavok has stressed that this was a “extremely isolated incident” and that the resort claimed “they have not engaged in practices such as substituting ingredients or altering the quality of drinks served to guests”.

Initial investigations are underway and no further cases have been reported, authorities said.

Sydney resident David Sandoe told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that his daughter Tanya and granddaughter Georgia were among those affected. But he added they were returning home and doing “very well” considering what happened.

“It’s very difficult to take a call at 11 at night… and your daughter says that they have been poisoned and they’re in hospital,” Mr Sandoe said, adding that Georgia had suffered a seizure.

The ABC had previously reported a 56-year-old Australian woman was under medical surveillance in hospital and a 19-year-old Australian woman had suffered “serious medical episodes”.

The Warwick Fiji hotel said in a statement to the BBC that it was aware of the “suspected alcohol poisoning” and was taking it “very seriously”. The hotel said it was “conducting a thorough investigation” while awaiting a “test result report” from the health authorities to “gather all necessary information”.

Fiji police are said to be investigating the circumstances of the incident.

Two Australian families in Fiji are receiving consular assistance, an Australian foreign ministry spokesperson said.

A New Zealand foreign affairs ministry spokesperson told the BBC it had “not received any requests for assistance” after the apparent poisoning incident.

“There’s a real terrifying sense of deja vu,” Australian minister Jason Clare told the ABC. Two 19-year-old Australian girls had died from suspected methanol poisoning in the Laos incident.

Tourists have been advised to “be alert to the potential risks around drink spiking and methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks in Fiji” by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The guidance said tourists should “get urgent medical help if you suspect drink spiking”.

It is believed they drank cocktails at a resort bar on Saturday night local time and shortly afterwards, displayed nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms.

Four of the seven are Australian, with ages ranging from 18 to 56, according to local media reports citing the health ministry.

The incident comes weeks after the deaths of six tourists in the South East Asian nation of Laos because of suspected methanol poisoning.

The tourists in Fiji, who were reportedly staying at a resort on the Coral Coast, were initially taken to Sigatoka Hospital.

They were all later transferred to Lautoka Hospital, according to the Fiji Times.

Two Australian families in Fiji are receiving consular assistance, an Australian foreign ministry spokesperson said.