Approximately $3.5 million was distributed among the 33 members of the Flying Fijians squad for last year’s World Cup held in France. The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) disclosed this amount in response to allegations made by former national captain Waisea Nayacalevu regarding potential misconduct within the organization.
Nayacalevu expressed in an interview that players were ready to boycott their quarter-final match against England due to unpaid bonuses and claims of corruption within the FRU. He emphasized that the team was united in their resolve, stating, “We weren’t going to play the match against England; we were going to walk out. They promised us things and we didn’t get it. We were promised a bonus.”
During their stay in Marseille, Nayacalevu organized a Zoom call to address the unfulfilled promises made by the rugby administrators. He set a deadline for payment, asserting that failure to meet this would lead to a boycott of the quarter-final. He indicated that this was not a new issue, as FRU had previously made similar empty commitments to the players.
With over ten years playing for Fiji, Nayacalevu voiced concern over the recurring nature of these issues, highlighting instances where players were paid half or not at all for extended periods. He mentioned that payments were received just days before the England match, which distracted the team from their focus.
Nayacalevu expressed hope that future generations of Flying Fijians would continue to challenge corruption in the system. He urged his teammates to learn from their struggles and stand up against similar issues in the future.
In a clarifying statement, FRU explained that each squad member received a signing fee of $30,000 along with a daily allowance of $500 during their World Cup preparations. The government had pledged bonuses based on performance—$30,000 for a quarter-final win, $40,000 for a semi-final triumph, and $50,000 for winning the final.
FRU assured that all expenses for the team’s World Cup preparations were fully budgeted and funded, covering travel, accommodation, meals, and insurance. They acknowledged a delay in payments to some overseas players due to issues with bank details.
Just days before the quarter-final, a Zoom meeting was arranged where Nayacalevu and other players insisted on receiving bonus payments beforehand, threatening not to play if their demands were not met. This prompted FRU to seek urgent assistance from the Prime Minister to fulfill the players’ requests.
FRU emphasized that they could not afford a boycott, particularly in a World Cup context, as it would jeopardize the Fiji team’s participation in international rugby. They reassured that all promised bonuses and fees were ultimately paid, totaling around $105,000 per player for the duration of the camp and the World Cup.
The trustees of FRU expressed sadness over Nayacalevu’s serious allegations and called for clarity on specific accusations of corruption, inviting him to present any evidence to substantiate his claims.