Waisea Nayacalevu, the captain of the Fiji national rugby team, has disclosed that there was a real possibility of a boycott for their quarterfinal match against England during the 2023 Rugby World Cup due to dissatisfaction over unpaid bonuses and allegations of corruption within the Fiji Rugby Union. In a detailed interview, the 34-year-old player from Serua revealed that the team was ready to refuse to participate in the match.
Nayacalevu expressed frustration about the corruption within Fiji’s rugby administration, stating, “We weren’t going to play the match against England; we were going to walk out. They promised us things, and we didn’t get them. We were promised a bonus.” He took the initiative to organize a presentation to discuss the unmet promises with the union members, warning them that if payment was not received by a certain date, the team would not play.
This was not the first instance of broken promises from the union according to Nayacalevu, who, along with senior players like Semi Radradra, Levani Botia, Albert Tuisue, and Eroni Mawi, decided to stand firm on the issue this time around. He acknowledged that the ongoing dispute with the Fiji Rugby Union became a distraction for the team as they aimed to make history by reaching the semi-finals for the first time.
Having represented Fiji for over a decade, Nayacalevu noted that these payment issues were recurring, with players often receiving their wages late. The team finally received their payments just before the England match, which added another layer of distraction during a critical time.
Despite the challenges, Nayacalevu believes in Fiji’s potential to win the World Cup, citing frustrations in their match against England where they felt their performance was hindered by officiating.
Fiji previously secured a memorable win against England before the World Cup but could not replicate that success in the tournament, ultimately losing 30-24 as key moments in the match turned against them in the final minutes.
This year could have marked Nayacalevu’s last in international rugby, motivating him to fight harder for his team. He has since continued to represent Fiji, participating in key matches, including against the All Blacks, and hopes future generations will address the corruption issues.
He urged his teammates to have the courage to confront the problems head-on, stating, “If we didn’t have corruption, if we had professional people in charge, then Fiji would be better. It’s not fair, but you have to go in there and fix it.”
Nayacalevu, who has a history of playing in France with clubs like Stade Francais and Toulon, recently signed with Sale Sharks, where he is expected to fill the gap left by injured player Manu Tuilagi. The Fiji Rugby Union has been contacted regarding Nayacalevu’s allegations.