FIJI National Rugby League (FNRL) chairman Rajesh Singh has moved to shore up the organisation’s position amid mounting internal disputes and a financial probe, saying legal and board processes are being followed and that steps are underway to restore financial transparency. Singh confirmed external auditors have been engaged, bank access has been reinstated, and an annual general meeting will be called once outstanding audits are completed.
Singh’s remarks came in response to public appeals for unity from Fiji Bulikula head coach Joe Rabele, who urged FNRL to resolve its internal problems quietly ahead of an important international calendar. “Joe Rabele is a coach that has been employed by Fiji National Rugby League,” Singh said, adding that any concerns should be raised through the board. He acknowledged tensions but said they stem from governance restructuring that followed the removal of the former chairman at an earlier board meeting.
On the organisation’s finances, Singh confirmed there are no audited accounts for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 financial years. He said an interim financial review by external consultants had flagged “a lot of things, a lot of abuse, misuse of funds,” and that those findings will be discussed at upcoming board meetings and shared with clubs. “Once we have the audited account, we will send a 21-day notice and conduct the AGM before the end of May,” Singh told reporters, signalling an accelerated timetable to restore corporate governance.
Singh also said external auditors have now been formally engaged to complete the audit process and that bank access — previously restricted as part of the investigation — has been restored to allow accounting work to proceed. He did not give a firm timeline for the completion of the audits beyond the AGM target, but framed the moves as part of a compliance-driven effort to bring the organisation back to normal governance standards.
The probe has had human collateral. Singh confirmed staff were issued suspension notices during the investigation period but stressed none had been terminated. He said some suspended staff were refusing to vacate FNRL premises, creating ongoing disruptions. “They are not vacating the premises and there are disruptions, but we are following legal process, and the police are now handling it,” Singh said, adding authorities had been informed of alleged trespassing and that investigations are ongoing.
Singh said the board will address the interim report’s allegations in detail and brief member clubs on the facts. He framed the current measures — suspensions, external reviews and legal engagement — as necessary steps to re-establish accountability after the recent governance changes. “We will discuss all those things in the board meeting, and the clubs will know the truth,” he said.
The latest developments come as Fiji’s representative teams prepare for international fixtures, making stability at the governing body a priority for coaches and players. Rabele’s public call for unity highlighted the immediate sporting stakes; Singh’s response underlined that FNRL’s leadership intends to handle contested matters through formal channels rather than in public debate, with an AGM and audited accounts expected to be the next milestones.
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