Fiji Rugby Union chairman demands 'return on investment' from players after Wales defeat

Fiji Rugby Union board chairman John Sanday has issued a sharp public rebuke to the Flying Fijians squad, demanding a “return on investment” from players and management after a 39-24 defeat by Wales left the Union with a financial loss from the first of three home games played in the UK.

Speaking to the Fiji Sun, Sanday did not hold back in his assessment of the Wales result. “The players have been well-looked after and paid well, where is the Return on Investment?” he said. “This is the urgent question. I personally don’t accept sub-par performance. The return on investment on the Wales match was minus. A poor return all around.”

Fiji face England at Everton’s ground this weekend before travelling to Murrayfield to take on Scotland. Sanday said ticket sales for the England fixture have been strong, with the Union already past its break-even point and around 5,000 tickets still to sell. Sales for the Edinburgh match are also described as positive.

Despite the financial hit from the Wales game, Sanday said the overall projection for the three-match series remains on track for a surplus. “Wales was a loss but overall we are still in line for a surplus and we have made sure we immunised the project from major downside risk,” he said, adding that he personally accepts responsibility for that result.

His criticism extended beyond the playing group to the broader organisational culture. “Those that are very well-paid, from the management to the players, need to look at themselves in the mirror and be honest,” Sanday said. “We are not demanding high performance enough from everyone in the organisation. We need to hold each other accountable and deliver the wins we have been searching for consistently.”

Sanday also pointed to a deeper attitudinal problem within the programme. “We seem to be still stuck in Tier 2 in our attitude and approach to the game and that has to change and change quickly,” he said. “This is not a picnic trip where one just goes through the motions, gets paid and then repeat it next week.”

The Fiji chairman noted that the Union’s board members have worked extensively on delivering the three-match series without receiving any remuneration. England, Fiji’s next opponents, were themselves beaten convincingly by South Africa last weekend, offering the Flying Fijians a potential opportunity to respond to their chairman’s challenge.