Approximately $3.5 million was distributed to the 33-member Flying Fijians squad for their participation in last year’s World Cup in France. The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) disclosed this amount in response to claims made by former national captain Waisea Nayacalevu regarding issues within the organization.
Nayacalevu expressed in an interview that the players considered boycotting their World Cup quarter-final match against England due to outstanding bonuses and alleged corruption within the Fijian Rugby Union. He stated, “We weren’t going to play. We need to cut off this virus that has always been there.” According to him, promises made to the team regarding bonuses were not fulfilled.
While based in Marseille, Nayacalevu organized a Zoom presentation to discuss these promises, warning that if payments were not made by a certain date, the players would not participate in the quarter-final match. He emphasized that the issue of unfulfilled promises was not new, noting that he and several senior team members, including Semi Radradra and Levani Botia, were frustrated with the ongoing situation.
Having represented Fiji for over a decade, Nayacalevu stated, “It’s the same thing over and over again,” referring to the consistency of payment delays and unfulfilled commitments. He expressed hope that future generations of players would confront these issues.
In response, FRU clarified that each player received a signing bonus of $30,000 and a daily allowance of $500 for the 91 days leading up to the tournament. The government offered bonuses based on performance, with $30,000 for a quarter-final win, $40,000 for a semi-final win, and $50,000 for winning the final.
The FRU explained that while all expenses for the team’s preparation were covered, some payments to international players were delayed due to verification of their banking details. Three days before the quarter-final, a Zoom meeting took place where Nayacalevu and other players demanded upfront payment of bonuses, threatening not to participate in the match if their demands were not met.
The FRU stated they took these demands seriously, understanding the potential risk of a boycott, and sought government assistance to expedite the bonus payments. Ultimately, Nayacalevu’s claims prompted the FRU to request clarification regarding the allegations of corruption, urging him to provide specific evidence of any wrongdoing.