Mark Evans, the CEO of Fijian Drua, has emphasized the critical importance of making timely payments of allowances to players amidst ongoing disputes between the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) and its athletes. Many players from Drua who are also members of the Flying Fijians have yet to receive their allowances from the June-July test series, resulting in growing frustration within the rugby community concerning the financial difficulties faced by Fiji’s athletes.
Evans stated, “Players should be paid monies owed in a timely fashion,” addressing the ongoing concerns between the FRU and its players. He clarified that Drua players receive their salaries bi-weekly throughout the year, regardless of their participation in the national team.
“Players contracted with the Drua are paid their salaries by us every 14 days, whether they are part of the national squad or not. These payments are not affected by any delays in the payment of international allowances by the national governing body. Therefore, many of your understandable questions regarding morale, injuries, wellbeing, performance, etc., simply do not arise. The Drua players are paid on time and in full every two weeks,” he added.
Evans acknowledged the unfortunate situation surrounding the unpaid allowances but reiterated that Drua operates independently from the FRU. “We view the situation as unfortunate. Players should be paid what they’re owed in a timely manner. We are not involved in any of the FRU’s financial arrangements,” he noted.
He encouraged that any inquiries about the FRU’s financial issues should be directed to their board and executive team, who are in charge of these matters. “They have a board and an executive team who can be asked to explain any issues,” Evans concluded. His comments underscored the necessity for accountability and timely payments to maintain the wellbeing and performance of players representing Fiji internationally.