Fiji Rugby warns of Agents and Agencies scouting players

Fiji Rugby Union {FRU} has raised serious concerns on agents or agencies trying to recruit players without registration with FRU and or with the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations as a recruitment agency as required by the Employment Relations Regulations.  

FRU Chief Executive John O’Connor said “We understand there is an agent or agency from China currently in the country scouting and recruiting players {both male and female} for playing contracts in China. The agent or agency is neither registered as an agent with Fiji Rugby nor with the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations as a recruitment agency.”

“FRU does not recognize this agency and we are warning players to be aware of such scrupulous agents. We will also not grant international player release for any player involved with this agency if the proper process is not followed.

We have a very good relationship with the China Rugby Union and also have a Memorandum of Understanding {MOU} on areas of collaboration, and they have neither advised the FRU of any planned professional competition and likewise their desire to recruit our players to play in their competition.

Our main interest is the welfare of the players and we are urging the players who have been approached by the agent or agencies to seek guidance from the Fiji Rugby Union through our High-Performance Unit Coaches Bill Gadolo, Kele Leawere, Iferemi Rawaqa and Sale Sorovaki. It’s always good to seek guidance and advice from those who have been through the same experience before making the final decision” said O’Connor.

He thanked the parents and players who have taken the time to seek clarification from FRU. Since country borders are now opening up and rugby has kicked off, there is likely to be an increase of such agents or agency seeking players and we ask players and parents to be careful and to seek guidance and advice. We have had some bad experiences in the past of promises not being met so we very cautious and concerned when we are made aware of such agent and acency.

He highlighted that FRU is at the moment currently having a discussion with Korean Rugby Union who have indicated to run a professional rugby competition in Korea and they have indicated that they will be seeking the assistance of FRU to recruit some of our players to participate in such competition. This is the right approach and when the positions and the numbers of the players are confirmed, we will advise our provincial unions accordingly.

FRU Chief Executive John O’Connor said they believed there were agents who have been scouting players from the Fun Flavour Super Sevens Series with dubious intent. It’s believed that some players have been targeted and selected without proper due diligence and are in camp allegedly undergoing quarantine before they fly off to Beijing, China in the coming days.

O’Connor said that FRU does not recognize these agents and agencies who are sneaky and trying to recruit players, without following due process and registration.

The CEO Fiji Rugby added “FRU is aware that some of the national players {men and women} have also been approached by these sneaky agents or agencies.

He further added “FRU has a Player Agents Policy and urged current and former players who are also acting as agents to register with the FRU and also follow the process of registration with the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations so there is a certain level of confidence that proper due process is followed and that the player welfare and interest is always paramount.”