Fiji stars threaten to boycott future internationals

Fiji players have threatened to boycott future internationals after not being paid their World Cup prize money.

According to reports in Australia, an email was sent around ‘on behalf of the Fiji Bati squad from the 2017 RLWC’, saying the players are prepared to not play for their country this year after becoming frustrated by attempts to receive their share of the $125,000 prize money for qualifying for the semi-final against Australia in November.

The prize money and Fiji’s participation fee for the World Cup was paid by RLWC2017 on December 22, but the Bati players haven’t received the money promised to them by the Fiji National Rugby League as of yet, says NRL.com’s senior reporter, Brad Walter.

The email said: “”Fiji Bati players have still not been paid semi final prize money from the RLWC 2017 after their quarter-final upset defeat of the NZ Kiwis and then RLWC 2017 semi-final exit to the Australian Kangaroos.

“The Fiji Bati players are now demanding to be paid and will stand down from playing another Test/ International in 2018.

“Fiji Bati players are also demanding a leadership overhaul of current Fiji National Rugby League board (for) their poor handling of RLWC campaign.”

However, the FNRL CEO Timoci Naleba has told NRL.com that his governing body was not responsible for the payment of Fiji’s players.

It is believed that the Rugby League Players Association is currently monitoring the situation.