Photo: Photosport
The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has issued a statement in response to former Flying Fijians captain Waisea Nayacalevu's claims of corruption within the organisation.
The union said it engaged the services of I. Naiveli & Co Chartered Accountants to conduct an investigation to ensure transparency and accountability.
FRU Trustees Board chairman Peter Mazey said they had challenged all players who accused FRU of corruption to come forward with any evidence. He said the FRU was committed to passing it on to the police or the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.
"I can now confirm that not one player has come forward with evidence of corruption," he said.
"This suggests that the claims may be unfounded."
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Last month, Nayacalevu made explosive claims about the internal functioning of the FRU, including the team almost boycotting last year's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match against England because they weren't paid what was "promised" to them by the union.
Fiji's fly-half Vilimoni Botitu is tackled by England's loosehead prop Ellis Genge next to England's outside centre Joe Marchant during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between England and Fiji at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille. Photo: AFP
In a tell-all interview with the Daily Mail's rugby correspondent Nick Simon, Nayacalevu spoke on what has been a long-held view in Fiji about financial management and player welfare concerns at Rugby House in Suva.
The 34-year-old, who has over 40 caps in the Fiji jersey, told the newspaper that corruption was rife within the FRU, likening it to a "virus" that needed to be "cut off" for things to improve.
Nayacalevu's claims were backed up by other senior players in an interview with FBC Sports.
FBC Sports interviewed France-based players Levani Botia and Viliame Mata, and current Flying Fijians players Albert Tuisue and Ratu Meli Derenalagi, who said they want a major clean-up at Rugby House.
They said things need to change for the better as instances of players not being paid on time has continued over the years with no signs of improvements.
In its report published on the FRU website, I. Naiveli & Co said all entitlements under the player contracts were paid out in full, in accordance with the fixed-term player contracts signed by all 43 members of the extended squad and the Rugby World Cup 2023 Flying Fijians team.
The report noted that the delays payment processing "was largely attributed to regulatory procedures with the banks and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services, and the provision of erroneous or incomplete bank details by the players".
"After reviewing the responses from players, attained from the direct confirmations sent to them, we can concur that the issues lay with the misinterpretation of how their payments were processed into their respective bank accounts," the report said.
It said the processing of payslips will address any future misinterpretation.
Fiji players and staffs celebrate at the award ceremony after the team's 41-17 victory in the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup Final between Fiji and Japan at Hanazono Rugby Stadium on 21 September 2024 in Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan. Photo: Paul Miller/Getty Images
Peter Mazey said it was widely reported when Fiji's Prime Minister visited the team in Taveuni that there will be a bonus, but it would come at the end of the World Cup.
"This arrangement aligns with past practices for our Olympic men's and women's rugby sevens teams after their medal achievements, and we believed it would apply to this World Cup as well," Mazey said.
"The team did threaten to boycott the quarterfinals unless a bonus was paid prior to the match against England.
"However, it is important to note that the Fiji Government had already paid part bonuses of FJ$5,000 on September 8 and an additional FJ$5,000 on October 13.
"Every player at the World Cup signed a fixed-term employment contract that clearly outlined their payment dates for the engagement period from July 1, 2023, to October 15, 2023."
The union said the players had also wanted to know where the World Rugby bonus of GBP£600,000 for reaching the quarterfinals had gone to.
Mazey said through correspondence with World Rugby, "we have been advised that the additional payments made to the Fiji Rugby at the knockout phase during the Rugby World Cup in 2023 were for preparation and planning needs and to support with any additional costs".
"There were no prize monies associated with this payment."
In response to recent online remarks from the former captain and senior players alleging a cash crisis and calling for accountability, Mazey said the trustees were appointed to address these issues only 14 months ago.
"We have discussed our challenges and findings openly, and I am pleased to announce that at the upcoming AGM for rugby, we will be revealing substantial changes in Fiji Rugby's financial management."
The FRU statement questioned whether the players, calling for personnel with experience in the sporting environment to run the FRU, had "forgotten the 12 senior managers who were all ex-national reps or the 105 fulltime paid staff who all have rugby at heart and are committed to doing the best for rugby in Fiji and to the welfare of all our players".
"They are all deeply affected by the comments of a few players and the social media postings they brought on," the FRU statement said.
"The FRU remains committed to supporting our players and ensuring that we uphold the integrity of our organisation."
The FRU also said the trustes decided in an August meeting to put forward to the incoming FRU Board to secure the services of a wellbeing manager and a mental skills manager.
