The manager of the Fiji 7s team for the last few tournaments in the 2007 IRB Series has today stressed that he did not receive any money or cheque from the hotel which used them for tourism promotional activities before last year's Hong Kong 7s.
Speaking to Fijivillage News this afternoon, Epeli Lagiloa confirmed that they went for the promotional activities and as far as he is concerned, no money or cheque was handed to him.
He also reveals that FRU Chief Executive Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua asked him about the payment in relation to the tourism promotional activity in Hong Kong last year.
Lagiloa said he cannot say anything on whether Waisale Serevi was given a cheque in relation to the promotional activity.
Information has been received by Fijivillage News on the action taken by Waisale Serevi which resulted in him resigning from the post last year.
Fijivillage News has spoken to reliable sources who were involved with the team last year about what transpired during the IRB 7s Series in 2007, which resulted in Serevi leaving the FRU and the 7s team.
We have received information that the Fiji 7s team went on a promotional tour dealing with a tourism marketing campaign before the Hong Kong 7s tournament last year. The team left our shores a few days before the tournament to participate in the campaign.
The whole team participated in the promotional campaign. It is alleged that a cheque was then given by the company to Serevi. This cheque was the payment for the team after the promotional work they had done.
Some of the people who were part of that 7s team and management told Fijivillage News that they were fully aware that Serevi allegedly received the cheque. However, no one raised the question and it was never discussed in the team meetings.
When the team returned to Fiji, there was an expectation that Serevi will hand over the cheque but this was never done. The matter was then raised with the Fiji Rugby Union.
Meetings were held with Serevi and we have been informed that in about two meetings, Serevi denied receiving payment for the tourism promotional campaign. He then resigned from the coach's position. Our sources said it was clear that if the team participated in the promotional campaign, the payment was meant for the team, not just Serevi. The other issue is that Serevi should have informed his employer, the FRU about the matter.
We contacted Serevi in Taiwan and he has refused to reveal anything and only asked where we received the information from about the reason for his resignation, was it from the FRU.
We have maintained to Serevi that the questions being posed by Fijivillage News to him is to ensure that he gives his side of the story for the people of Fiji. He said he does not want to speak.
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I didn’t receive any money-Lagiloa
