During the Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Fiji and England from October 13 to 15, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka penned a letter addressing the Fiji team’s players, assuring them of a $20,000 bonus each after their match against England at the Stade de Marseille on Sunday, October 15. The prime minister’s pledge came after an audit conducted by I.Naiveli & Co Chartered Accountants confirmed that all player contract entitlements had been paid in full according to fixed-term agreements signed by the 43 members of the squad. The report cited delays in payments primarily due to regulatory issues with banks and inaccuracies in bank details provided by the players.
The audit indicated that players had issued a request for the government bonus for reaching the World Cup quarter-finals. A bonus of $10,000 was disbursed in two installments of $5,000; the first on September 8, 2023, and the second on October 13, 2023. The report noted that on October 13, 2023, the players demanded the full bonus payment before their quarter-final match scheduled for October 16, 2023. In response, the Prime Minister provided a written assurance that the government would pay the final bonus of $20,000 promptly after the quarter-final.
As per the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU), the government could not make immediate payments due to internal processes. Consequently, the auditors confirmed that FRU initially paid the bonuses on behalf of the government from their overdraft facility on October 23, 2023, with reimbursement from the government occurring on November 20, 2023.
The audit covered various documents detailing the payments made to players from July 1, 2023, to October 15, 2023. It included player payment schedules, contracts, bank statements, and documentation supporting reimbursements, among others.
Payments to players included multiple scheduled disbursements, totaling $113,500 distributed across various pay runs, sign-on fees, and government bonuses. Two sets of player contracts were established—one for pre-Rugby World Cup payments and another for the Rugby World Cup itself, both ensuring players were compensated based on their participation.
On player concerns regarding payment delays, the audit noted that the finance team at FRU had processed changes when players switched bank accounts mid-tour. Delays were attributed to needing tax clearance and other administrative steps to complete fund transfers. FRU has since taken measures to enhance the accuracy of players’ bank details and expedite payment processes.