Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans has emphasized the urgent need for prompt payment of player allowances amid ongoing disputes between the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) and its players. Several Drua players, who are also members of the Flying Fijians squad, have not received allowances owed to them for the June-July test series, resulting in frustration within the rugby community concerning the financial difficulties faced by Fiji’s athletes.
“Players should be paid monies owed in a timely fashion,” Evans stated, addressing the current issues between the FRU and its athletes. He clarified that players contracted with the Drua receive their salaries biweekly for the entire year, regardless of their participation in the national team.
“Players contracted with the Drua are compensated by us every two weeks for 12 months, whether they are part of the national squad or not. These payments are unaffected by any delays in international allowance payments from the governing body, which means many questions regarding morale, injuries, wellbeing, or performance simply do not apply. The Drua players receive their salaries on time and in full every 14 days.” He acknowledged the unfortunate situation surrounding the overdue allowances but reiterated the Drua’s separation from the FRU.
“We view this situation as regrettable—players should indeed receive their payments on time. We are not involved in the financial operations of the FRU,” he added.
Evans urged that any inquiries concerning the FRU’s financial matters should be directed to their board and executive team, who are tasked with addressing such issues. “They have a board and executive team that can be approached for explanations regarding any concerns,” he concluded.
His comments underscored the importance of accountability and prompt payments to support the well-being and performance of players representing Fiji on the international stage.