Fiji’s decision to block players from signing any overseas rugby contract without formal approval from the Fiji Rugby Players Association (FRPA) and Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has sent a clear message across the Pacific, spotlighting welfare concerns long faced by Tongan athletes.
The announcement comes amid renewed scrutiny across the Pacific, following several high‑profile cases demonstrating how Pacific Island players remain vulnerable to unsafe conditions, financial insecurity and coercive contract practices overseas.
The urgency of the issue intensified after the 2025 concussion incident involving Tongan league forward Eliesa Katoa, who required brain surgery following a head knock in a Test match.
An NRL investigation found serious failures in the management of Katoa’s head injuries, including inadequate communication between medical staff and breaches of concussion protocols after he suffered multiple head knocks and later required brain surgery.
As a result, four Tongan officials—including the head doctor, assistant doctor, and head trainer—were issued breach notices and banned from NRL and ARLC competitions for two years, with a formal warning given to the medical assistant.
Across professional rugby—both union and league—Pacific Island players from Tonga, Samoa and Fiji continue to report mounting pressures from overseas clubs.
Wealthy teams, particularly in France’s Top 14 competition, have been accused of discouraging Pasifika players from joining their national sides during international windows, including major tournaments such as the Rugby World Cup.
These pressures often come with implied or explicit warnings that prioritising country over club could place a player’s livelihood at risk.
At the same time, deep financial and resource disparities between Pacific unions and major European or NRL clubs leave many players with little choice but to put their professional contracts first.
Smaller unions, including Tonga, are unable to offer comparable income or long‑term security, resulting in players withdrawing late from national squads simply to protect their economic survival.
These patterns have created a system in which Pacific players often feel they must choose income over identity, health and long‑term welfare.
Fiji Implements Mandatory Contract Vetting
In a landmark policy shift, the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU), working with the Fiji Rugby Players Association (FRPA), has introduced a mandatory vetting process for every Fijian player—professional or age‑grade—considering an overseas contract or scholarship.
The move aims to prevent Fijian players from signing exploitative agreements that jeopardise their health, finances, or long‑term prospects.
FRU CEO Koli Sewabu outlined the scale of the problem:
“We have seen cases where players are injured, and clubs stop payments because they are not playing. Too many players are suffering abroad due to loopholes in contracts that were not properly reviewed before signing.”
Under the new system, no player may sign an overseas deal without FRPA review and FRU approval.
The Fiji Rugby Union’s new player‑protection framework introduces strict measures to safeguard athletes signing overseas deals. Under the policy, all contracts must be submitted to the FRU, which will forward them to the Fiji Rugby Players Association (FRPA) for legal and welfare review. Players must lodge their documents two to three weeks before visa processing, and no contract may be signed until the vetting process is fully completed.
The system also tightens control over player representation, allowing only FRPA‑registered agents to act on behalf of Fijian players. Registered agents will be held accountable for any misleading or exploitative contract arrangements.
To further protect welfare, the FRU requires all contracts to clearly outline housing, transportation, medical insurance, and fair salary provisions. A deal is considered valid only after FRPA approval and the FRU CEO’s signature on the official Player Release Form.
The FRU and FRPA have also issued a strong warning after reports that some professional players have been arranging overseas contracts for others. They stress that players cannot act as agents, and only licensed intermediaries may negotiate transfers. Officials warn that bypassing the system could leave players without legal or financial protection if problems arise abroad.
