The Malolo Rugby Union is raising serious questions about how gate revenue from this year’s Skipper Cup knockout stages was managed, including the quarterfinals, semifinals, and grand final. They’re urging greater transparency from both the Fiji Sports Council and the Fiji Rugby Union.
FBC Sports has reached out to the two bodies for comment and is waiting for a reply.
In a statement, Malolo asserted that the figures published by the Fiji Sports Council do not align with the union’s own estimates of crowd size at the 2025 Skipper Cup final. The council reported about 11,000 attendees with tickets priced at 20 dollars each, which Malolo said should have produced approximately 220,000 dollars in revenue. Yet the council announced total takings of just over 59,000 dollars, and Malolo noted that there was no breakdown provided for ticket categories, sales channels, or deductions.
The union also argued that both finalists should receive a share of the gate takings. Malolo contended that the payouts did not reflect the reported attendance. They highlighted deductions from Naitasiri Seniors, which received 4,612.60 dollars but had 1,383.78 dollars withheld and redirected to the Naitasiri Under 20 team, prompting questions about how deductions were calculated.
Malolo claimed that semifinal figures were inconsistent as well. They stated that more than 9,000 spectators attended the match, yet the Fiji Sports Council reported takings of just over 56,000 dollars. They questioned how the final, which they claim had a larger crowd, could yield only a modest increase in revenue.
The union emphasized that players at the domestic elite level deserve stronger support. They also referenced a photograph circulating online, purportedly from a Vatukoula official, showing cash handling inside a ticket booth. While Malolo said this image strengthens their concerns about match-day operations, FBC Sports has not independently verified its authenticity.
Additionally, Malolo asserted that their 20,000-dollar prize money had been reduced to just over 16,000 dollars due to compliance fines. While the union accepted the deductions, they noted that the team is in a rebuilding phase and did not anticipate winning the title this year.
Further, the union claimed that players received only 120 dollars in meal allowances after the grand final, paid via M PAISE (mobile money platform) and reportedly used to purchase one kilogram of kava. FBC Sports has not independently verified this account.
Malolo concluded by calling for stronger governance, clearer accountability, and higher administrative standards within the sport.
FBC Sports is awaiting responses from both the Fiji Rugby Union and the Fiji Sports Council.
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