Fiji Rugby Union interim chairperson Peter Mazey has cleared the air surrounding questions by the Fijiana 15s players on payments due by the FRU.
Mazey said the trustees will be meeting next week to sort out the issues raised by the Fijiana 15s players.
According to claims by some Fijiana players on social media lately, the FRU had told the players they will receive $300 per day allowance for their test match against Australia and the Oceania Women’s Championship.
However, Mazey said the $300 per day allowance is only for World Cups and Olympics.
“Under the processes of rugby, all our teams that are going to the World Cup or the Olympics were given $300 per day allowances (per player). All other teams going to Oceania events or tests matches or anything else apart from World Cup or Olympics received $100 per day allowances. That was the policy,” said Mazey.
Mazey clarified that after speaking to the Fijiana 15s captain Sereima Leweniqila, it appears the players were told otherwise.
“It appears that the girls were told they will be receiving $300 per day allowance on this trip (Oceania Women’s Championship).”
The FRU acting chairperson added in the meeting of the trustees next week, representatives from the players may also be present.
“Because the girls are based all over the country, I have asked the captain Sereima if the girls can appoint three representatives to come and meet the trustees so that not only can we address this issue but there were a number of other issues that they brought us as well and we need to address all of them.
“We want to make sure everybody is looked after and that we sort this out once and for all,” said Mazey.
USA-based Fijiana 15s lock Asinate Serevi, who is the daughter of 7s legend Waisale Serevi, took to social media yesterday voicing her concerns.
“As much as I want to hold back on posting because everything is out there, and we know that none of this is new. Every single player that’s played and have played under Fiji Rugby has been either misguided or mistreated. The real issue is that no one is ever honest with us,” Asinate posted on her Facebook page.
“We are still owed $600 from World Cup so no not all payments have been paid out to WC players. Wallaroos test Match & Oceania – We were told before we left for the Test Match that while we’re home training at camp that we’d be getting paid $100 per day until the day we leave for Oceania than the pay would increase to $300 per day until we flew back. Throughout the tour we were continuously told that the $300 was approved and still being processed. So, no, we aren’t liars that was clearly what was being told and that’s why the players are upset,” she added.
All in all, pay us the rest of the money promised to us and you can deal with the rest after. Start fresh and hold yourselves accountable to what you promised and let us do the rest,” Asinate wrote.
