The Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) says an attempt to terminate all of its staff at headquarters on March 26 was unauthorised and has been contained, with no staff positions affected. In a statement released after several days of social media speculation, the governing body said the move did not follow proper procedures and was not supported by the organisation.
FNRL said the incident involved newly elected chairman Rajesh Singh bringing termination letters to the organisation’s headquarters without consulting the Human Resources Department. “Our Operations Manager advised Mr Singh to follow the proper procedures for any staff termination. These actions were not supported by FNRL, as he does not have the authority to make staffing decisions,” the statement said.
The league stressed the matter was addressed internally and that there would be no changes to current staffing. It did not disclose disciplinary measures or further internal steps, saying only that the situation has been resolved and that employment positions remain unaffected. The operations manager who intervened was not named in the statement.
FNRL’s clarification comes after posts circulating on social media suggested a widespread and immediate cull of employees. The organisation urged the public and stakeholders to verify information directly with FNRL’s office, warning that misinformation has been contributing to confusion and concern among staff and the wider rugby league community.
The episode highlights tensions that can arise around governance and decision-making in sporting bodies when newly installed leadership takes actions that bypass established human resources processes. FNRL’s statement makes clear that, under its current rules, staffing decisions require HR involvement and cannot be executed unilaterally by the chairman.
For now, FNRL says operational continuity is maintained and that normal work at its headquarters continues. The organisation did not provide a timeline for any further internal review nor confirm whether Mr Singh would face any formal inquiry; it limited its remarks to reiterating that he “does not have the authority to make staffing decisions.” The league’s call for the public to seek official confirmation aims to stem further misinformation ahead of any possible follow-up announcements.
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