The Prime Minister had promised a bonus of $30,000 per player if the Fiji Water Flying Fijians team won the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
Minister for Youth and Sports, Jese Saukuru stated this during his ministerial statement in Parliament today saying that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka with government backing offered the team $40,000 if they won the semi-final and $50,000 for winning the final.
Saukuru says the bonuses were therefore based on the team's achievements after the Rugby World Cup.
He says the former captain and the senior players were aware of this but unfortunately still proceeded with their demands.
The Sports Minister says on the payments, the bonus was not only promised but was paid, and the sign-on fee of $30,000 has been paid.
He says the $500 daily allowance has been paid as well.
Saukuru says in addition to the agreed payments, Fiji Rugby, Fiji Government and World Rugby paid all expenses for the Flying Fijians for their preparation and for their participation in the World Cup.
The Sports Minister says all travel to, from and during camp, international air travel, accommodation and meals, all playing and training gear and incidentals also was budgeted for by Fiji Rugby, World Rugby and Government.
He says on Waisea Nayacalevu's claims, the difficulty of course is in the original statement where he stated that the issues existed between Rugby House and the players going back 10 years.
Saukuru says questions had been raised on unpaid money as far back as 1987 and 2007 and 2019.
He says the current trustees have only been there a year and regrettably it will be a challenge to investigate every claim if records are not available.
The Minister says there appears to have been a lot of frustration among the players and sadly the trustees currently at the Rugby House are taking the brunt of it.
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