Fiji players get paid: ‘When they finally did, it was because I posted’

The Fijiana celebrate after their courageous Super W win over the Reds
Photo: Fijiana Drua

Fiji’s women’s rugby captain says the team has been paid – but only after she raised a fuss online.

Sereima Leweniqila raised the issue of non-payment of allowances in a Facebook Post on Tuesday.

“Do we have to win everytime to be treated right? Could we get paid the amount due to us?” she wrote.

“What does it take for our voices to be heard? Do we always have to fight to get what we deserve? Pay Us What is Due to Us,” she added.

Two more Fijiana players waded into the discussion online.

Drua captain Bitila Tawake said on Facebook the Fiji Rugby Football Union (FRFU) should not compare them to the men’s development team the Fiji Warriors.

She said the union only acts when players start raising their concerns and queries for payment.

“The fact that the trustee board compared us to Warriors and exaggerated their win. Fijiana XVs and Fiji Warriors are two separate pathways and cannot be compared.

“If the Warriors didn’t win you wouldn’t have finished their pay as well. This is an ongoing trend and it’s continued to fail us rugby athletes.

“Expecting that allowance is income for most of us. Gambling whether to pay us or not is a breach in code of conduct to us ethically and what we stand for in our rugby values.”

Another senior player, Waido Salaba Senibua, said the media should interview them and not just take the FRU statement as golden truth.

“The local media have been lied to that our payments have been settled,” she said.

“Come talk to us to find out the truth.”

She told RNZ Pacific that they have lost hope on the FRFU.

At the time of publication of this story no specific details about the payments to the women’s players had been made public.

Action taken after post went up

Sereima Leweniqila
Photo: World Rugby / Greg Bowker

Fijiana captain Sereima Leweniqila said payments were only actioned after she had raised the issue.

“Well I have raised the issue on email, no one responded until yesterday (Wednesday). Issue also pending from World Cup last year. I had warned them I was going to escalate it.

“When they finally did, it was because I posted.”

She said the players had to constantly remind the union for their payments.

“Apparently my post was just not about the Oceania but the past treatments. A player had to constantly follow up on her payments,” she said.

“It’s like the same fight over and over again. We have to constantly fight to get paid.

Payments made says union

The Fiji Rugby Football Union Trust Board (FRFUTB) said all overdue payments to Fiji’s women’s team players have been paid in full.

A statement by Administrator Simione Valenitabua said they acknowledge the concerns raised by Leweniqila on the issue of player payments.

“We assure the public and, more importantly, our valued players, that all due payments have been fulfilled,” Valenitabua said.

“This morning (Wednesday), FRFUTB members, Administrator and Finance met with team manager Vela Naucukidi and reviewed the payment processes, requisitions and vouchers.

“It was confirmed to her satisfaction that all dues owed to Fijiana Drua and Fijiana 15s players have been settled. Ms Naucukidi also shed light on the source of recent social media upheaval, which appears to stem from a misunderstanding about the daily allowance rate for players.”

Valenitabua said the FRFUTB is deeply committed to player welfare and is exploring partnerships with sponsors to ensure this commitment is upheld and improved to fair labour practice standards.

He said the FRFU Trustees and management are currently awaiting reports from the tour coach and management to address any potential issues not yet discussed publicly by the Fijiana captain or the players.

Valenitabua also claimed the previous FRFU Board had approved a pay structure that sees Fijiana players receive $300 per day during the World Cup and $100 per day for the Oceania tournament and the Australia Wallaroos test.

The structure also includes the Fijian Warriors Men’s team receives a daily allowance of $27 per day, which the Warriors players were paid during their recent victorious run at the World Rugby Pacific Challenge Cup in Samoa in early May.

That statement was later revised by the FRFUTB after Warriors players revealed to Fiji media that they received $50 per day in Fiji and $100 per day while in Samoa.