Fiji Water Flying Fijians captain Waisea Nayacalevu disclosed that their quarterfinal match against England at the 2023 Rugby World Cup was nearly jeopardized due to player dissatisfaction over unpaid bonuses and allegations of corruption within the Fiji Rugby Union. In an interview with the Daily Mail, the 34-year-old from Serua, who recently signed with the Sale Sharks, confirmed that players were prepared to boycott the match.
Nayacalevu expressed the need to eliminate the persistent issues within Fiji rugby, stating, “There’s corruption in the Fiji rugby house. We weren’t going to play the match against England; we were going to walk out. They promised us things, and we didn’t get them. We were promised a bonus.”
While in Marseille, Nayacalevu organized a presentation and a Zoom call to address the unmet promises, giving the Rugby Union a deadline to resolve the payment issues, warning that failure to do so would result in the players not participating in the quarterfinal.
According to Nayacalevu, this situation was not unprecedented, as players have faced similar issues in the past. Several senior players, including Semi Radradra, Levani Botia, Albert Tuisue, and Eroni Mawi, were determined not to let this lapse pass unnoticed this time.
He noted that the ongoing issues with the Fiji Rugby Union distracted the squad as they aimed for a historic semi-final appearance. “I’ve played for Fiji for more than 10 years, and it’s the same thing over and over again,” he said, referring to players being underpaid and sometimes not receiving wages for extended periods. He shared that they received their payments just before the England match, which added stress to the team’s focus.
Despite the challenges, Nayacalevu believes Fiji has the talent to win the World Cup, sharing that they were frustrated after their loss to England, having built momentum only to be thwarted by penalties. Fiji had previously defeated England at Twickenham before the tournament but lost the quarterfinal 30-24, with crucial points scored late in the game.
Nayacalevu speculated that 2023 could be his final year in international rugby, intensifying his determination to advocate for his teammates. He played for Fiji in tests this year, including a significant match against the All Blacks, and hopes future players will continue to challenge corrupt practices within the rugby administration.
“I told the team, ‘Boys, when I’m gone from here, I hope you learn from this… when things happen in the future, I hope you have the courage to confront them,’” he stated. Nayacalevu also emphasized the need for professionalism within the Fiji Rugby Union for the betterment of the sport in the country.
Having spent most of his club career in France with teams like Stade Francais and Toulon, Nayacalevu recently joined Sale Sharks, where he is expected to help fill the gap left by Manu Tuilagi. The Fiji Rugby Union has been contacted for comment regarding Nayacalevu’s allegations.