The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) confirmed that approximately $3.5 million was distributed to the 33-member Flying Fijians squad for their participation in last year’s Rugby World Cup in France. This figure was released following allegations made by former national captain Waisea Nayacalevu regarding unpaid bonuses and corruption within the union.
Nayacalevu stated in an interview that players contemplated boycotting their quarter-final match against England due to these financial issues. He expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises, claiming, “We weren’t going to play. We need to cut off this virus that has always been there.” He emphasized that the situation had distracted the team’s focus leading up to the match, as payments were made just days before the game.
He also indicated that during their stay in Marseille, he arranged a Zoom call with officials to discuss the promised bonuses, threatening that the players would not participate if payments were not received by a set deadline. Nayacalevu shared his disappointment, noting this was not an isolated incident and highlighted ongoing issues with the FRU’s financial dealings over the years.
In response, the FRU clarified that each player received a signing fee of $30,000 and a daily allowance of $500 during their preparation for the World Cup. Government bonuses were also introduced, with amounts based on the team’s performance in the tournament. They confirmed that while all expenses were budgeted and funded, there were delays in payments for some overseas players due to verification of their bank details.
The FRU acknowledged the seriousness of Nayacalevu’s allegations and expressed their concern regarding claims of corruption. They stated that any specifics regarding these allegations would need to be substantiated with concrete evidence. The statement also highlighted the potential consequences of a boycott on the players and the organization, reiterating that all promised payments had indeed been made.