The Flying Fijians’ squad received approximately $3.5 million following their participation in last year’s World Cup held in France. This figure was disclosed by the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) in response to allegations made by former national captain Waisea Nayacalevu regarding unpaid bonuses and corruption within the union.
Nayacalevu, speaking to Daily Mail, revealed that the players were prepared to boycott their quarter-final match against England due to these unresolved financial issues. He expressed his frustration, stating, “We weren’t going to play. We need to cut off this virus that has always been there. They promised us things and we didn’t get it.”
During their stay in Marseille, Nayacalevu organized a Zoom call to discuss the discrepancies in promised payments, informing the FRU that if the payments were not made by a certain date, the players would refuse to participate in the match against England. Nayacalevu emphasized that this was not the first instance of unfulfilled commitments from the FRU, pointing out a pattern of partially paid wages and delays.
With over a decade of service to the national team, Nayacalevu remarked on the ongoing issues, noting that the situation had distracted the team’s focus before the crucial match. He expressed hope that future teams would be more proactive in addressing similar issues.
In its official statement, the FRU outlined the financial details, noting that each player received a sign-on fee of $30,000 and a daily allowance of $500 throughout the period from July 16 to October 15, 2023. The government had set up bonuses for performance, with amounts varying based on the team’s progression in the tournament.
The FRU clarified that all expenses related to the team’s World Cup preparation were budgeted and funded adequately, although some delays occurred with payments to overseas players due to verification of banking details. The statement addressed Nayacalevu’s claims, revealing that a Zoom meeting was held before the quarter-final where players insisted on receiving their bonuses beforehand, leading the FRU to seek emergency funding from the Prime Minister’s office.
The union highlighted the potential consequences of a player boycott during such a significant event and reassured that all promised payments had been fulfilled. In total, each squad member earned around $105,000 for their participation. The FRU expressed concern over Nayacalevu’s allegations of corruption and requested specific evidence to substantiate his claims.