Daniel Leo, a renowned former Samoan rugby player, has called on Fijian rugby players locally and abroad to unify themselves in forming a players’ union that is independent of affiliation to parent sporting bodies such as the Fiji Rugby Union or World Rugby.
Leo made the call following the ongoing dispute between the Fiji Rugby Union and a group of Flying Fijian players led by Waisea Nayacalevu, who alleged unfulfilled obligations for bonuses promised during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
While all interested parties await the outcome of an independent audit report that will be released in due course, Leo urged all Fijian rugby players to form their own union.
“The Fiji players need to form their own association, ideally structured along the lines of a trade union, to faithfully represent the interests of both professional players and those entering into the professional pathway, like academy players,” he said.
Leo suggested the players’ union could be funded with deductions from players salaries, thus severing any relation to World Rugby, through its funding.
“The new players’ association or union should be player-funded through deductions, but it should also have the right to use player imagery for commercial return to the players and the union.”
He reasoned while current players with the Fijian Drua franchise and those contracted to the FRU were part of the Pacific Rugby Players welfare organisation, he noted the PRP body was contracted to the FRU after all.
“PRP is contracted to the FRU as the exclusive body that Rugby House recognises as representing players’ interests.
“But have you heard from the PRP in this three-week-long media storm about player payments and alleged corruption? No. Their silence is deafening.”
