KING PROUD OF GAMES SQUAD Today has been a mixed day for the Unified Iwi at the Mundus Games. The second day of the Boxing Competition saw another day of the Commonwealth taking every Gold medal meaning that Maori boxers took every gold on offer, moving the team up to top of the medal table. Head of Commonwealth Boxing, Jaero Meluemia said "Sports like Boxing are psychological part of our culture. We see ourselves, whether Men, Women or Fa'afafine as warriors. The desire to test ourselves drives us towards certain sports and Boxing is a very popular one. I'm proud of every single one of our athletes and know they've been superb ambassadors not just for the Commonwealth but for their Iwi's. We can look forward to getting home and celebrating now. It would be amazing if we could continue our push and stay top of the medal table."
An oppurtunity that would normally be considered a red hot certainity came later in the day in the Rugby 7's when the Men's team were drawn to face Royal Seleucid in the final. However as the teams headed out onto the pitch their was no arrival from the Iwi's team for three minutes until only four players emerged lead by captain Keula Rolokan. Joined by Matis Ruegua, Willie Saparani and Hosa Gerea the four men made their way to the centre of the pitch and laid down a shirt in the teams colours, Rolokan knelt with his team-mates behind him and then the players walked off to much confusion around the stadium. Moments later the entire squad, staff and officials of the Commonwealth left the changing rooms and returned to their accomodation. Speaking with the media after Rolokan said, "The Mundus Games are a games were we are expected to play in a spirit of friendship and brotherhood. This can not be done in a sport like rugby with a nation that have murdered your family. Me and my three team mates all had relatives murdered in Seleucid Death Camps, my grand-father experimented on with Anthrax. I can't go and play against a team that have still failed to acknowledge this past or do anything to bring peace. Our respect of our ancestors means more than a Gold Medal." The shirt laid on the pitch bore the symbol of a fern rather than a number, Rolokan explained, "The unfurling fern leaf respresents life beginning after the winter, this is our show of the fact that despite the Seleucid trying to wipe us out we are as a nation growing." The game was awarded to the Royal Seleucid team meaning the Commonwealth were awarded a Silver medal however the team refused to collect the medal in the official ceremony and Rolokan interfered with the raising of the Commonwealth Flag. "I will not allow it to fly lower than the murderers one." he said as he pulled it away from the official raising it.
Back in the Commonwealth King Piripi supported his team saying, "Before the games we discussed what should happen. In events like the athletics where there is a mass start and a large field the athletes felt it was right to compete as after all we have a great many friendly nations out there. We had athletes suggest that in a one versus one matchup however we withdraw. I left it to the conscience of each of our athletes and teams and from what I understand everyone has said they will not compete against the Seleucid, especially as sports like rugby traditionally see handshakes and tunnels of respect off the pitch following games. This does not fit right. I know we may face sanctions but a protest must be made. We shall continue this policy until we see Royal Seleucid make real attempts at bringing their criminals to justice and co-operating with the Historic Crimes Treaty we recently created."