Fiji’s captain for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, Waisea Nayacalevu, has stated that he and other senior players are raising concerns for the betterment of Fijian rugby, emphasizing that their focus is not on financial gain.
Nayacalevu, along with teammates Levani Botia and Semi Radradra, addressed issues related to allegations of mismanagement within the Fiji Rugby Union during a prominent social media podcast regarding promised incentives since the Rugby World Cup.
“It is not about the money, but rather the future of the next generation of Fiji rugby players,” Nayacalevu expressed. He noted that agreements concerning player payments made prior to the World Cup have not yet been fulfilled, declaring that enough is enough.
“This has been an ongoing issue for quite some time,” he added. “It reflects poorly and it’s crucial that we implement more professionalism within Fiji Rugby’s leadership.”
Botia echoed these sentiments, mentioning that he and many other players have not received the promised bonus of $105,000, despite having received a salary of $30,000 distributed in two installments before and after the World Cup.
“I have no idea where it went,” Botia remarked.
The senior players are now advocating for a thorough investigation into the current situation.