Yato backs FRU move to accredit rugby recruit agents

Veteran Flying Fijians flanker Peceli Yato is supporting Fiji Rugby Union’s decision to implement agent accreditation for the safeguarding of rugby players. 

This was after some players who are lured overseas for rugby contracts do not get what they were promised. While most Fijian players abroad secure genuine contracts, some face adverse consequences. 

Yato, who has been playing in France for over a decade said most of the agents in Fiji do not follow up their respective players once they depart Nadi International Airport. 

“Some agents do not complete the work that they start and that’s what they’re good at,” the 32-year-old who now plays for Perpignan in the Top 14 competition said. 

“There should be a second option available; clubs here in France hold a six months trial – the confirmation of their place at a club depends on their performance during that six months.”

He added that most of these young players are forced to find another club to have more game time, which is a challenge in a country such as France.

“We are all foreigners here; I applaud FRU for identifying this issue to address the luring of these young players.  

“They should have a specific department to look into these agents. These players should be well looked after until they are professional rugby players because FRU will be need these players in three to five years’ time,” Yato added.

FRU acting chief executive officer Koli Sewabu said the implementation of a mandatory accreditation system for agents dealing with Fijian players is not just an administrative step -it is a fundamental duty of care to protect the players who are the lifeblood of the game.

“It is a duty of care, not barrier.”

He said rugby is not just a sport in Fiji but a pathway to opportunities, a source for national pride and a dream for countless young athletes. However, this dream can quickly become a nightmare without proper safeguards.

“This initiative is not about stopping players from pursuing opportunities or hindering their legitimate movement. It is about ensuring that this transition is managed ethically, professionally, and safely, with strong safety nets and laws adhered to at every stage,” Sewabu said.

“Here’s why this accreditation is so critically important:

1. Prioritising Welfare, especially for minors

Sewabu said player’s welfare especially for minor is paramount as they are the most vulnerable group.

“These young men (and soon to be-women) are often leaving their villages and families for the first time, facing immense cultural, academic, and social pressures in a foreign country.

“Who looks after them? When a young player faces issues abroad—homesickness, injury, non-selection, contract disputes, immigration problems, work-related issues or exploitation—they are profoundly isolated.”

He said agents who are unaccredited, unvetted may vanish when problems arise, leaving the player stranded and unsupported.

“An accredited agent, bound by a code of conduct, is accountable.”

Sewabu said the agents are the first point of contact, obligated to ensure the player’s well-being extends far beyond just signing a contract which also applies to schools abroad who offer scholarships.

He added many parents and teachers in Fiji who vouch for student rugby-migration do not understand the school systems abroad.

“For example, a younger 16/17 year old who has finished Year 13 or Form 7 in Fiji gets offered a full scholarship to go study in New Zealand. They will then need to go through NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) Levels 1-3, where NCEA Level 1 is Year 11 or Form 5. They may have wasted 2 more years at high school where they could have pursued a diploma course in university or tertiary institutions and one year away from a bachelors qualification. What happens after NCEA L3 in NZ? Where do they go? Are they good enough or adapt to go to the next level in a highly competitive rugby nation? Who looks after them? Whose obligations are those? These are issues that need to be properly addressed by parents/teachers/caregivers before they accepts such offers for their next journey in life.”

2. Addressing “flaky agent” problem and negative experiences

He said the history of Fijian rugby is unfortunately marred by stories of unscrupulous agents who have exploited players where today many “flaky agents” make grand promises of contracts with top clubs, fame, and fortune.

“Young players often sign contracts they don’t understand, in a language they may not speak, only to find the reality is a low-tier league, poor pay, broken promises, and abandoned when injured. These are devastating consequences that I have experienced, like many other former players, and sadly, this still happens nowadays.”

Sewabu said there were times where most of his colleagues had to pick players from airports and accommodate them in their own homes for weeks and sometimes month where they’re  offered pastoral care and moral support.

“Some went on to depression, fearing the shame of being sent back home. As mentioned previously, the grass is not always greener on the other side. Our people need to be well informed on these issues before they put pen on paper.

“These issues of flaky agents will not happen under my watch, and working with our Fiji Rugby Players Association, we need to curb these issues,” he added.

He said FRU will ensure the players leaving our shores, including their families, are well informed and are advised on issues such as the following:

• Financial Exploitation: Players signing contracts they don’t understand, with excessive agent fees or misappropriated earnings. Players need to understand that in the professional arena, their bodies become commodities. It means your physical body is no longer just your own. It becomes a financial asset. Its value is measured by its performance, durability and marketability. Your health, fitness, and even your risk of injury are managed to generate profit for a club, brand, or competition, turning your physical self into a product to be traded, used and sometimes, discarded.
• Poor Placement: Players being placed in unstable clubs or leagues that fold, leaving them stranded without pay or a visa.
• Neglect of Duty: Once the player is signed, the agent’s interest often ends, leaving the player to navigate complex legal, tax, and immigration systems alone, until it’s time for re-signing, just to take their cuts and off they go again.

“Accreditation is the tool to weed out bad actors. A rigorous vetting process—including background checks, proof of expertise, years of operation, and financial audits—ensures that only reputable, professional, and competent individuals are permitted to represent Fijian talent.”

3. Managing the many transition issues

The accreditation process will also help players manage the many transition issues.

Sewabu said moving from Fiji to a professional rugby environment in Europe, Japan, or Australasia is a massive life transition that goes beyond rugby and accredited agents must be well equipped.

“They should be able to manage this holistically:

• Cultural and Social Integration: Helping players adapt to new foods, languages, climates, and social norms to prevent loneliness and depression.
• Education and Life Skills: For young players, ensuring academic programs continue and life skills like financial literacy are taught and developed.
• Mental Health Support: Providing access to counselling and support networks to handle the pressure of professional sport.
• Post-Career Planning: A good agent helps a player plan for life after rugby, ensuring their earnings are invested wisely for their future back in Fiji.

4. Providing Accountability and a Recourse mechanism

“Accreditation ensures agents are accountable to these transition issues. It makes player welfare a mandatory part of their job description, not an optional extra,” he added.

Another reason is that agents should also be able to provide accountability and a recourse mechanism.

Sewabu said an accreditation system managed by Fiji Rugby through its Fiji Rugby Players Association creates a clear chain of accountability which includes a set of standards and a point of recourse.

Accredited agents will have to agree to abide by a strict set of rules and ethical guidelines set by Fiji Rugby.

“If an agent fails in their duties, the player or their family has a clear place to lodge a complaint—Fiji Rugby. The governing body can then investigate and, if necessary, suspend or revoke the agent’s accreditation, blacklisting them from operating in Fiji.”

These actions will also protect the rugby ecosystem which is the clubs and the sport’s integrity.

“Overseas clubs can have confidence that agents vetted by Fiji Rugby are legitimate, making transactions smoother and more professional.”

He added that implementing an agent accreditation system is a proactive and essential step for Fiji Rugby which will move the relationship from a wild west free-for-all to a professional, regulated environment built on trust, accountability and responsibility.

Sewabu highlighted it is about empowering players and their families to make informed decisions, ensuring that the pursuit of a rugby dream does not come at the cost of a young person’s well-being.

“By vetting and accrediting agents, Fiji Rugby sends a powerful message: We value our players not just as athletes, but as people, and we will protect them long after they leave the comfort of home. This is how the nation safeguards its greatest resource and ensures the Fijian rugby story remains one of inspiration, not exploitation.”