Vodafone Fijian 7s coach Ben Ryan has urged the 29 inductees of the Elite Player Pathway Academy not to take up overseas offers without getting advice and information.

With the standard of rugby lifted to new heights with the success of the Vodafone Flying Fijians at the Rugby World Cup and the Vodafone Fijian 7s team, overseas interest in local players is likely to grow.

Ryan gave examples of agents who have promised players a lot of money but the players end up with less when the club no longer needs them.

“With these boys getting into Fiji national teams, provincial teams and 7s team, they will start to get offers from agents,” Ryan said speaking from Cape Town.

“There are some bad stories, players will get contacted through their Facebook and agents promise these players they will get lots of money.

“I know stories and know of players who have been given $100,000 and by the time the agents and club is finished with them, they are left with only $5,000-$10,000 so you have to be very careful and seek advice.

“We have got players on the field here who got offered $200,000 last year.

“I told them to wait and then this year they got another offer from the same club which is now $500,000.

“I can’t say it strongly enough to be very careful about who you sign to and who the players agree to sign with because sometimes those agents will take far more money than they should.”

With young players getting offered scholarships in Australia and New Zealand, Ryan said it was good for the players to further their education and play rugby overseas but they need to ensure they are available for national duties.

“We have boys from our U18 taking scholarships in New Zealand and Australia and some of those are brilliant,” he said.

“We never stop the boys going and getting those scholarships, as long as they stay Fijian and play for the national sides as well as further their education overseas.”

Ryan closed off his talk with the young players and their parents with advice on offers received from overseas, to take time out to enquire and not to make a quick decision.

“My biggest advice is to talk about it, get as much advice and information you can and sit down and think about it, don’t make a quick decision.”