Fiji Rugby Union Clears Controversy: Full Player Entitlements Paid for Rugby World Cup, Audit Reveals

An audit conducted by I. Naiveli & Co. on behalf of the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has confirmed that all player entitlements for the Flying Fijians squad during the 2023 Rugby World Cup were paid in full.

The audit, which reviewed the payments made to the 43 players in the extended squad, found that the allowances and other financial entitlements stipulated in the players’ fixed-term contracts were disbursed as agreed. These payments were in line with the contracts signed prior to the squad’s departure for France.

While the audit acknowledged delays in the payment process, these were attributed to external factors such as regulatory procedures involving banks and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services, as well as issues with incorrect or incomplete bank details provided by some players. The accounts firm noted that such delays were not the result of non-payment but rather administrative issues that slowed the processing of funds.

The audit also revealed that confusion among players arose due to misunderstandings regarding how payments were deposited into their accounts. To address this, the auditors recommended that FRU provide detailed pay slips to players, specifying gross payments and deductions. This step would enhance transparency and help prevent similar misunderstandings in the future.