FIJI Water Flying Fijians hooker Sam Matavesi recently went public on social media, regarding the current situation within Fiji Rugby Union.
Matavesi expressed his frustration over the ongoing issue of player payments and the lack of support from the FRU board.
He emphasised that players have never asked for excessive amounts of money, but simply wanted to be paid on time as agreed.
Matavesi pointed out that players have consistently fulfilled their obligations by not demanding more money when contracts were signed, but rather expecting to be paid what was agreed upon in a timely manner.
He highlighted the efforts of senior players in negotiating for fair compensation increases, stressing that their main goal has always been to represent Fiji with pride and dedication.
“We’ve never asked for ludicrous money just to be paid with the times of the world, we had an increase that the senior players in 2019 fought hard for, and an increase in 2023 which the senior players worked hard for,” he said.
“We’ve never asked for more money when contracts were signed, we just wanted to be paid what was agreed on time.”
The hooker revealed that the lack of support from the FRU board has led to a recurring cycle of financial uncertainty during team camps, with players constantly facing the threat of not receiving their contracted payments.
Matavesi called for a shift in leadership within the organisation, proposing a board that is fully committed to supporting both players and management in their pursuit of success.
He commended the dedication of some senior players like Waisea Nayacalevu, Semi Radradra, and Levani Botia in standing up for their rights and pushing for change within the system.
Matavesi stressed that without their efforts, the potential of Fijian rugby would be severely limited, hindering the progress and development of future generations of players.
