Rugby
Tom Hamilton, Senior Writer 7y

Ben Ryan snubbed by Fiji Rugby Union awards

Rugby

Ben Ryan, the man who led Fiji to Olympic gold, has been snubbed in the annual Fiji Rugby Union awards with him omitted from the nominations for coach of the year. 

He was shortlisted for World Rugby's coach of the year, a gong that went to All Blacks boss Steve Hansen, but the FRU has left him off a three-person shortlist which sees Akuila Nasi, Esala Nauga and Max Hughes included. 

Ryan left his post as Fiji coach in the aftermath of their history-making success at Rio 2016 but the union and Ryan have not since seen eye-to-eye. 

In December, the FRU published a statement saying it was disappointed with Ryan's "constant remarks" on his twitter account about the team and his criticism of the union for not having contracted the players in the opening two rounds of the World Sevens Series. 

While Ryan is not in the running for coach of the year, three of Fiji's Rio stars are up for men's sevens player of the year: Jasa Veremalua, Jerry Tuwai and Osea Kolinisau. 

The full list of nominations can be found here. 

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