Sam Matavesi, the hooker for the Flying Fijians at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, expressed the team’s desire to wear their national jersey and represent Fiji, whether in a quarterfinal match or against Georgia in a remote location.
In a recent social media update, Matavesi emphasized the importance of wearing the white jersey and representing their country and its people. He pointed out that the players have never demanded excessive payment; they simply seek to be compensated fairly and on time.
Matavesi highlighted that there was a pay increase the senior players fought for in 2019 and another in 2023, which was also hard-won. He stated, “We’ve never asked for more money when contracts were signed; we just wanted to be paid what was agreed upon ON TIME.”
He noted the seriousness of the players’ situation, explaining that they had to convey to the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) their willingness to consider striking during a World Cup quarterfinal to secure the payments they were owed.
“There needs to be significant change within the FRU. Imagine if we had a board that genuinely supported the players and management with a unified goal of winning,” he remarked.
Matavesi, who has been involved with Fiji rugby for some time, stated that these issues have become a recurring problem in every camp. He credited fellow players like Wyse, Semi, and Bots for their efforts in addressing these challenges, pointing out that without their involvement, the potential of Fijian rugby could remain severely underutilized.
“Something needs to change,” he concluded.