‘Please lay out the evidence’ - Fiji Rugby hits back at corruption claims

The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) wants former Flying Fijians captain Waisea Nayacalevu to provide evidence of corruption in the union which he claimed in an interview with an English newspaper this week.

FRU Interim Board chairman Peter Mazey said they were saddened but concerned by Nayacalevu's comments made in the Daily Mail, especially the "serious accusations against the team at Rugby House".

He said FRU could not and will never risk a boycott of any match by a Fiji rugby team, let alone the quarterfinal of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and they took the threat seriously.

"The consequence of such a boycott would likely have been Fiji players and Fiji Rugby being expelled from participating in World Rugby matches," Mazey said in a statement released to the media in Suva on Tuesday night.

"Waisea [Nayacalevu] as captain and the senior players were aware of this but unfortunately still proceeded with their demands.

"Our concern is the serious accusations of corruption at Fiji Rugby. He should have been asked to specify exactly what he means by this statement. Does he know of any specific cases of corruption? If so, please lay out the evidence for all to examine."

Nayacalevu claimed corruption was rife within the Rugby House, after revealing that he and a number of players were ready to boycott their quarterfinal clash against England at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, in a tell-all interview with Daily Mail's rugby correspondent Nick Simon.

He confirmed what has been a long-held view in Fiji about financial management and player welfare concerns at the FRU head office in Suva.

The 34-year-old, who has over 40-caps in the white jersey, told the Daily Mail that corruption was rife within FRU, likening it to a "virus" that needed to be "cut off" for things to improve.

"We've never said this in public, but it's time for it to go out," Nayacalevu was quoted as saying in the Daily Mail's report.

"We need to cut off this virus that has always been there.

"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 it. We were promised a bonus.

"We were staying in Marseille and I organised a presentation, a Zoom call, I organised everything, to talk about what they had promised us. We gave them a date and said, 'If you don't pay by this day, nobody is going to play this quarter-final'."

Mazey said the FRU approached Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to step in and help.

He also confirmed there were delays in processing the payments, because of bank issues, and that everything owed were paid out to the players and officials.

"Regrettably, three days before the quarterfinal, the Team Manager arranged a Zoom meeting between the captain, some team members and the Fiji Interim Rugby Administrator at that time," Mazey said.

"In that meeting, the captain and some players demanded payment of bonuses prior to the quarter final and they threatened Fiji Rugby that they wouldn't play the quarterfinal match unless the bonuses were paid first.

"We took this threat seriously and realised the pressure this put-on Fiji Rugby's cash flows. We had no option but to approach the Prime Minister for government assistance to pay the bonus, much earlier than planned.

"An undertaking was given to the players by the Prime Minister's Office that they would be paid the quarter final bonus they demanded, immediately after the quarters."

Mazey said the bonus "was not only promised but was paid".

He said each player received a total of F$105,000 for the World Cup campaign.

That included the sign on fee of $30,000 plus $500 daily allowance.

Mazey added when the Trustees took responsibility of Fiji Rugby in May 2023, 4 months prior to the World Cup, their biggest priority was finding the funding to get the Flying Fijians into camp, train and then to play in the World Cup, and return to their clubs.

He revealed that after negotiations, it was agreed that each Flying Fijian squad member (33 players) would receive a sign on fee of $30,000 and an allowance of $500 per day from 16 July to 15 October 2023, which was a period of 91 days.

Government then offered bonuses of $30,000 for winning the quarterfinal, $40,000 for winning the semi-final and $50,000 for winning the final.

The bonuses were based on the team's achievements.

Mazey said in addition to that remuneration, Fiji Rugby and World Rugby paid for all expenses for the Flying Fijians for preparation for and participation in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

"That included all travel to, from and during camp; international air travel, all accommodation and meals, all playing and training gear and incidentals also.

"These had all been budgeted for, by Fiji Rugby, World Rugby and government. Admittedly there were some delays in the payments to a handful of overseas based players, due to confirming their overseas bank details.

"The Flying Fijians are a nationally proud group, most of whom play for national pride when they are called up to do so for family and country."

Mazey said the FRU has learned from the incident and others of similar nature in the past and are working on supporting Fijian teams in future competitions.

"We have learnt from the past and are working hard to achieve continuous improvements in the management and performance of our teams," he added.

Meanwhile, Fiji's Minister of Youth and Sports has confirmed bonus payments promised to the Fiji men's sevens team for winning silver at the Paris Olympic Games are yet to be made.

Speaking to FBC Sports, Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru confirmed nothing had been paid yet.

He blames the ministry's new financial system as causing the delay.

"Delay is with our financial system, the Ministry of Finances' new financial system and accounting system so that's what is causing the delay at the moment," he told FBC Sports.

The coalition government had promised financial rewards ahead of the Olympics, pledging $50,000 for a gold medal, $20,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze.

The sevens team was the only Fijian and Pacific team to win a medal at the event.