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Fijiana rugby players have finally been paid what they are owed by the Fiji Rugby Union, ending a long saga.
The monies are allowances the players were owed for the 2022 Women's Rugby World Cup and this year's Oceania Women's Championship.
Captain Sereima Leweniqila and senior players raised the non-payments of allowances earlier this year, and this was highlighted by RNZ Pacific.
"Do we have to win everytime to be treated right? Could we get paid the amount due to us?" Leweniqila wrote in a Facebook post.
Initially, in June, it appeared that the players had been paid all the allowances.
But just a day later RNZ Pacific reported that the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) admitted it underpaid its women rugby players and still owed them their dues.
A few days later RNZ Pacific revealed that the FRU had to find $FJ172,000 to pay the Fijiana players, because funding earmarked for them had been channelled into keeping the union afloat.
FRU Trustees Board chairman Peter Mazey told the broadcaster the union had a near $FJ3.5 million ($US1.7m) debt.
Commitment honoured
But last Friday, Mazey confirmed that all the due payments had been made.
"We are pleased to have fulfilled our commitment to the players that was discovered during the impasse," he said.
"This increase reflects our support for their hard work and dedication to their cause for equality and fairness," he said in a statement.
"The discovery of the shortfall kick-started an internal FRU process of identification, clarification and finally, resolution of the payment issues. In the end, our ladies were invited to the Fiji National Sports Commission where their financial details were sorted out and payments made subsequently."
Leweniqila said the squad is thankful for the move.
"On behalf of the team, I thank the Fiji Rugby Football Union Trust Board for this significant support and closure of payment issues. It's a great boost for our morale, future games, and Women's Rugby in general."
The Fijianas are preparing for the forthcoming World XVs Women's tournament, being held in Dubai.
