Senior members of the Flying Fijians, including those who participated in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, are calling for significant reforms at the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU). The players expressed their concerns during an interview with FBC Sports in Suva this week.
Former Flying Fijians captain Waisea Nayacalevu claimed he has evidence to support his allegations of corruption within the union, which he first made public last week. He was joined by France-based players Levani Botia and Viliame Mata, as well as current team members Albert Tuisue and Ratu Meli Derenalagi. They all agree on the need for a thorough cleanup at Rugby House.
The players highlighted ongoing issues with delayed payments, stating that many have not received their salaries on time for years. Botia confirmed Nayacalevu’s claims from a recent interview, emphasizing the need for players to concentrate on their performance rather than financial concerns. “We kept pushing the players to play because we trusted the FRU to handle payments, but many still didn’t receive their allowances and bonuses,” he said.
In response to Nayacalevu’s claims of a potential boycott during their quarterfinal match against England due to payment issues, FRU interim chairman Peter Mazey admitted that payments were delayed but insisted all owed money has now been settled. He also requested Nayacalevu to provide his evidence.
Nayacalevu stated he is prepared to share this information. “If you want evidence, I’ll send it,” he told FBC Sports, detailing an incident where a team manager traveled with a credit card that had no funds to cover excess luggage costs, forcing coaches to pay out of pocket.
The former manager, Eleina Macdonald, has since been replaced by Bill Gadolo for the World Cup. Nayacalevu pointed out that these financial problems have persisted throughout his time with the Flying Fijians. He stressed that players expect timely payment, as they have families and bills to support.
He added, “Everything has been piling up for me personally, and I felt the need to reveal the truth about what happened during the World Cup.” Nayacalevu accused the FRU of being defensive regarding these issues.
Additionally, big number eight Peceli Yato left the team last year while they were training in Fiji. RNZ Pacific attempted to contact him for comment, but he declined to discuss the situation.
The FRU has not yet addressed the latest allegations from the players.
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