Approximately $3.5 million was distributed to the 33-member Flying Fijians squad for their participation in last year’s World Cup held in France. The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) disclosed this information in response to accusations made by former national captain Waisea Nayacalevu regarding financial issues within the organization.
Nayacalevu revealed to Daily Mail 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. He emphasized the players’ frustration, stating, “We weren’t going to play. We need to cut off this virus that has always been there.”
He detailed efforts to address these issues, including organizing a Zoom call to discuss unfulfilled promises regarding payments. Nayacalevu and several senior players, including Semi Radradra and Levani Botia, expressed their dissatisfaction with previous empty promises from the FRU. He mentioned, “I’ve played for Fiji for more than 10 years and it’s the same thing over and over again,” referring to the ongoing struggles with timely compensation.
In their clarification, the 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. They also outlined the bonuses offered by the government for advancing in the tournament, which were contingent on the team’s performance.
Furthermore, the FRU detailed the planning and funding of the team’s expenses for the tournament, which included travel, accommodation, and insurance. They recognized delays in payments for some overseas players due to logistical issues with bank details. The FRU stated that they took the players’ threats seriously, prompting them to seek government assistance to ensure bonuses were paid in a timely manner.
Despite Nayacalevu’s accusations, the FRU claimed that all promised payments, including signing fees and daily allowances, were made, resulting in each player receiving around $105,000 for the duration of the tournament. The FRU Trustees expressed sorrow over Nayacalevu’s allegations and encouraged him to provide specific evidence of any corruption claims.