During the Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Fiji and England from October 13 to 15, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka wrote a letter of assurance to the Fiji players, promising a bonus of $20,000 for each player following their match at Stade de Marseille on October 15. This action was taken amidst concerns over payment delays.
An audit by I. Naiveli & Co Chartered Accountants revealed that all player entitlements under their contracts were paid in full, but the delay in processing payments was mainly due to banking regulations and incomplete bank details provided by the players. The audit stated that players misinterpreted how their payments were processed into their accounts.
The audit highlighted that players had communicated their demand for the government bonus for reaching the World Cup quarter-finals, which amounted to $10,000, paid in two installments of $5,000. The first was received on September 8, 2023, and the second on October 13, 2023. The players insisted on receiving their full bonus before the quarter-final match, prompting the Prime Minister to assure them on October 13 that the government would expedite the payment of the final $20,000 bonus as soon as possible after the match.
According to the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU), the government was unable to pay the players immediately due to procedural constraints, leading FRU to cover the bonuses temporarily. The government subsequently reimbursed FRU on November 20, 2023.
The audit also reviewed various documents related to player payments, which included payment schedules, contracts, bank statements, and correspondence between the FRU Finance Team and the Team Manager.
Payments to players were documented as follows: seven payment runs from July to mid-October, sign-on fees, and government bonuses totaling $133,500 distributed among the players based on contract agreements and time spent in camp.
Concerns regarding payment delays were addressed, with many players experiencing issues due to changes in their bank account details during the tour. Some players had also initially provided incorrect details, resulting in funds being returned to FRU’s account. The finance team is working to improve payment processing times and ensure players provide accurate banking information.
Overall, the audit confirmed players received their contracted amounts, with additional measures being enacted to streamline future payments.