Fijiana captain Sereima Leweniqila last week called out the Fiji Rugby Union on social media for failing to pay players for what they were owed for recent matches against Australia and in the Oceania Women's Rugby Championship.
After an initial FRU statement that they had paid the players correctly, FRU Trustees Board interim chairman Peter Mazey apologised to the team and admitted that they were still owed money.
The team had been told that individual allowances of $300 Fijian (€124) per day had been approved, but only received F$100 per day.
Leweniqila took to social media to call out the FRU.
"Do we have to win everytime to be treated right? Could we get the amount due to us? 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 said.
Do we have to win everytime to be treated right? Could we get paid the amount due to us?
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🙏
🏉🇫🇯 pic.twitter.com/zmvjBHz4Wl— sereima leweniqila (@imaleweniqila8) June 13, 2023
The next day, the FRU released a statement saying the women had been paid what they were owed according to the pay structure in place, which included an allowance of $100 Fijian per day.
But Mazey retracted that statement on Friday, saying "Today, further investigations and evidence received have shown that the women were promised F$300 (NZ$219) per day, as claimed, despite the Rugby allowance policy."
"I must thank all of those great women's rugby players who had the strength and honesty to come out and bring their rights to the trustees' attention.
"I am only sorry they were forced to use social media to achieve what is their right due to promises made."
Mazey said the trustees want to meet with the players as soon as possible "to address all other issues they have raised and to obtain their help in guiding us in the restructuring and the organisation of Fiji Rugby as a professional body moving forward."
