Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has raised concerns about persistent maladministration within the Fiji Rugby Union following recent tensions involving former Flying Fijians captain Waisea Nayacalevu and the union.
Rabuka says that when issues of mismanagement at last year’s World Cup first came to his attention, he recognized ongoing administrative problems within the FRU.
Waisea Nayacalevu had made claims about corruption and poor management at the FRU in an interview with Daily Mail UK earlier this week.
At a recent meeting where it was decided that the government would not intervene in the FRU’s operations, Rabuka indicated that the decision was accepted with the understanding that it was the FRU’s responsibility to manage its own affairs.
“When those things came to me, I knew there was some maladministration continuing in Fiji Rugby Union. And at the last meeting, when they finally decided that the government will have no role in the running of the FRU, I said, okay, it is their organization, they deal with it as they see fit.”
After the Flying Fijians threatened to boycott last year’s World Cup quarterfinal match against England, the PM said he told the then interim administrator Simione Valenitabua to ask the team to train and that the government will send the money instead of FRU.
Meanwhile, the government has made changes to how Fiji 7s players will receive their Olympic silver medalist bonuses.
While the original plan was for the Ministry of Finance to transfer the money directly to the players, the funds will now go through the Fiji Rugby Union.
Despite the adjustment, each player will still receive the promised $20,000(US$10 million).
Minister for Sports Jese Saukuru emphasizes that the switch in payment method won’t affect the players’ bonuses.
“We were initially going to get the list from the FRU and pay the players directly from the Ministry of Finance. But now, we’ve decided that the entire amount will go to Fiji Rugby Union, who will then transfer the payments to each player’s account.”
The transfer was made Wednesday to FRU and each player were to receive their payout.
