Approximately $3.5 million was distributed to the 33-member Flying Fijians squad following last year’s World Cup in France. The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) disclosed this amount in response to allegations made by former national captain Waisea Nayacalevu about issues within the Rugby House.
Nayacalevu expressed in an interview that the players considered boycotting their World Cup quarter-final match against England due to unpaid bonuses and allegations of corruption within the Fijian Rugby Union. “We weren’t going to play. We need to eliminate this ongoing issue,” Nayacalevu stated.
He explained that during their stay in Marseille, he organized a Zoom call to discuss their promised payments, indicating they set a deadline for their bonuses: “If you don’t pay by this day, nobody is going to play in this quarter-final.”
Nayacalevu, supported by other senior players like Semi Radradra, Levani Botia, Albert Tuisue, and Eroni Mawi, expressed frustration over past broken promises from the FRU, stating, “I’ve played for Fiji for over 10 years and it’s the same issues repeatedly.” He noted that payments were only made just days before the England match, which he claimed affected the team’s concentration.
He hopes that future Flying Fijians will similarly challenge corruption within the organization, stating, “When I’m gone, I hope you guys learn from this… you must confront these issues.” He added that a professional approach and integrity in management would significantly benefit Fijian rugby.
In its response, the FRU clarified that each player received a signing fee of $30,000 and a daily allowance of $500 from July 16 to October 15, 2023, across the 91-day period. The government proposed bonuses of $30,000 for a quarter-final victory, $40,000 for a semi-final, and $50,000 for winning the final.
The FRU confirmed that all expenses related to the team’s World Cup preparation were budgeted and funded, including travel, accommodation, meals, and insurance. They acknowledged a delay in payments to some overseas players due to confirmation of their bank details.
Three days prior to the quarter-final, a Zoom meeting was arranged where the captain and other players insisted on receiving their bonuses before the match, threatening to boycott if their demands were not met. The FRU, understanding the implications of such a boycott, sought assistance from the Prime Minister to expedite the payment of bonuses, which were assured to be disbursed immediately after the quarter-finals.
The FRU maintained that the bonuses were fulfilled and that each player received approximately $105,000 in total during the camp and the World Cup. They expressed concern regarding Nayacalevu’s serious allegations of corruption, urging him to provide specific evidence regarding any claims made.