A Fijian rugby player representing a Canterbury provincial club says he is subjected to racist remarks by rival supporters and players every weekend.
Peni Manumanuniliwa - pictured playing for Mid Canterbury against South Canterbury on 21 September 2013 Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Peni Manumanuniliwa, who has played 100 games for Southbridge, said he and his team have had enough of the comments from the sideline.
Mr Manumanuniliwa said he didn't expect to encounter this sort of treatment when he decided to move to New Zealand.
He said it was hard on his wife hearing the remarks and he wondered how those making them would react if they were on the receiving end.
The North Canterbury Rugby Sub Union has been investigating remarks made at a game last weekend involving another two teams. Nobody has yet been been held accountable as the culprits could not be identified.
Mr Manumanuniliwa has the backing of his club's manager, Chris McMillan, who said things were so bad he now switched his Fijian players to the other side of the field to get them away from opposition supporters.
Mr McMillan said referees and touch judges needed to start handing out warnings to spectators and if these did not work then their team should be penalised.
He doubted those making the remarks realised how hurtful they were.
