The Fiji Rugby Union is yet to make the bonus payments to the players of the Vodafone Fiji 7s team who won the Gold Coast 7s tournament on the 12th of last month.

Fijivillage has spoken to some of the players and they confirm that they are yet to receive the bonus payments for the win.

We have questioned FRU Chief Executive Officer Radrodro Tabualevu on what is the delay.

He said bonus payments will not be paid in cash at the Airport when the players arrive.

Tabualevu said players will be informed in the future that payments will be done 21 days after they receive the total cheque from the sponsor.

Vodafone Fiji had presented the large $20,000 cheque to the team upon their arrival at the Nadi International Airport last month.

Vodafone has referred all queries to the FRU.

When questioned on FRU’s financial situation as it now has the $8 million a year sponsorship, Tabualevu confirmed that the sponsorship is $2.8 million cash and $5.2 million in kind.

He also confirms that the sponsorship amount is VAT inclusive which means that the VAT component of the sponsorship package is $1.2 million.

We have asked Tabualevu how this affects the FRU.

Tabualevu who is currently in Europe is yet to respond to this.

When asked, he earlier confirmed that the FRU’s sources of revenue to fund its operation are sponsorship, gate takings, grants through the government, the IRB and the IOC, and merchandising.

Tabualevu said the success of the Fijiana; the resolve to get the Fiji U20s back into the top 10 and the urgent need to bridge the gap with NZ and Australia in the U18 category, the road to Rio and the 2015 World Cup present substantive pressure on the FRU’s financial resources.

He said the FRU acknowledges that the current sponsorship is what the market can bear.       

Tabualevu said the FRU will now have to rejuvenate other revenue streams to be able to meet its current obligation and to pursue strategic objectives.

We have asked Tabualevu how much money the FRU needs in a year to fund all its teams and competitions.

He is yet to confirm this.

Meanwhile Fiji Rugby Union’s board member, Baljeet Singh had also confirmed in April this year that some of the deals that they were looking at as part of the sponsorship was employment for the players who would be contracted. 

Singh has referred all queries the FRU CEO.

Stay with us as we await further clarification from FRU CEO Radodro Tabualevu.