Risking their place in the national side, 2 senior players of the Fiji Water Flying Fijians have spoken out in support of captain and Sale sharks centre, Waisea Nayacalevu who a week ago made claims about non payment of players from the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
Levani Botia who plays for La Rochelle and Semi Radradra who plays out of the Lyon Club, both in France have stood by Nayacalevu and refute claims by the Fiji Rugby Union that all the players have been paid their due.
Speaking via a live FB session, Radradra said they were not only fighting for themselves but are wanting to set the platform for upcoming rugby players who will go on to play for Fiji.
“If standing up and speaking out means we will lose the privilege of playing for Fiji, then maybe this could be the last time we are in this team.” Radradra said.
In a statement last week in response to Nayacalevu’s interview with the Daily Mail UK, FRU said that as far as they’re concerned all payments have been made to the players.
Radradra said at the camp in Taveuni prior to the RWC, FRU management had assured them that they would get their bonuses upon reaching the quarter finals.
“But on the week of the quarter finals, the manager came to us and said that communication from FRU stated that we would only get the payment if we won the quarter finals. It’s as if they undermined us, and never thought much about our capabilities as a team.”
Seaasoned flanker Botia said that for some players, payments are still due to them from as far back at the Rugby World Cup of 2019.
“In 2019 we were given $15k before the World Cup and $15k was supposed to be given after the tournament. We are still waiting for those payments. Sometimes to come and play, to come to camp we have had to pay for our own way. FRU says they will reimburse us, to this day no reimbursements have come and it’s gotten to a place when we don’t want to ask about it because nothing is ever done.”
Questions sent to the Chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union Trustees Peter Mazey have not been answered.
