Around $3.5 million was distributed to the Flying Fijians squad, consisting of 33 members, in connection with last year’s World Cup held in France. The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) disclosed this amount, responding to former national captain Waisea Nayacalevu’s claims against the organization.
Nayacalevu stated in an interview that players considered boycotting their quarter-final match against England over unpaid bonuses and issues related to corruption within the Fijian Rugby Union. He expressed strong dissatisfaction, saying, “We weren’t going to play. We need to cut off this virus that has always been there.”
He recounted efforts to address the situation by organizing a Zoom presentation while the team was in Marseille, warning that if payments were not made by a certain date, they would not participate in the upcoming match.
Nayacalevu highlighted ongoing issues with unpaid bonuses, mentioning that several senior players were discouraged from accepting the FRU’s previous promises. He reflected on his ten years of experience playing for Fiji, noting that such issues of delayed payments were not new.
He expressed hope that future Flying Fijians would advocate against corruption, encouraging them to confront issues boldly. “If we didn’t have corruption, if we had professional people in charge, then Fiji would be better,” he remarked.
In its response, the FRU outlined that each squad member was given a sign-on fee of $30,000 and an allowance of $500 per day from July 16 to October 15, 2023. The FRU stated that bonuses were contingent on the team’s performance, with government bonuses outlined for different stages of the tournament.
The FRU explained that it fully budgeted for the team’s preparation and participation costs, including travel, meals, and accommodations. Some delays in payments to overseas players arose from the verification of their bank details.
FRU also mentioned that during a Zoom meeting three days before the quarter-final, Nayacalevu and other players insisted on upfront payment of bonuses, threatening not to play unless their demands were met. This led to the FRU seeking government assistance to pay the demanded bonuses sooner than planned.
The organization reiterated that the bonuses were not only promised but were actually paid, with players receiving around $105,000 each throughout the World Cup preparation and participation.
The FRU expressed concern over Nayacalevu’s serious allegations and urged him to provide specific evidence regarding claims of corruption within the organization.