Etu Tusitala, the former strength and conditioning coach for Fiji’s national sevens team, is grappling with financial difficulties as the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has not paid him the $277,000 he is owed.
Tusitala signed a three-year contract in March 2022 while working under then-CEO John O’Connor, and had a work permit issued by the Immigration Department valid until March 2025. However, his contract was unexpectedly terminated early, leaving him with a significant unpaid sum.
Last week, Tusitala met with FRU CEO Rovereto Nayacalevu, who promised to look into the issue, but Tusitala has yet to receive any communication or payment. Queries directed to the FRU about the outstanding payment remain unanswered, leaving Tusitala and others in the rugby community in search of clarity.