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In the past year, Fiji have lost over 30 top players who have left the sun and sand in Suva and gone abroad seeking new and greener pastures.

 No one will be missed more this weekend by the Fijians than giant forward Waisake Masirewa who now turns out for New Zealand provincial team Counties.

 To make matters worse, Masirewa will probably front up against his countrymen in the Cup final on Sunday, if as expected, both the two favourites emerge unscathed from the opening rounds of the 21st Hong Kong Sevens.

 The main countries who have benefited from the defections of top Fijians are New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

 The new open era has hit Fiji harder than most other countries. While on the one hand, professionalism could blow in a breath of fresh air by offering players a livelihood, it is also reaping a cruel harvest with more players leaving their idyllic farmlands in search of money abroad.

 'Fiji cannot afford to keep their best players at home. The situation is drastic unless rugby gets a big sponsor soon who is willing to pour in money,' says Paula Tagivetaua, rugby writer for the Fiji Times.

 Let's look at the sums. In Fiji, a top player - like Waisale Serevi - would get NZ$20 as daily allowance when he is representing the country. This, for example, was what the players in the national sevens team (the same side which is here in Hong Kong) were getting at the Fiji Sevens a fortnight ago.

 'Compare that to what Masirewa was getting when he was playing for New Zealand which is NZ$100 a day. We know that the New Zealand players are on NZ$4,000 per week when they go for the Hong Kong Sevens,' reveals Tagivetaua.

 Fiji, meanwhile, are on an increased overseas allowance of NZ$60 per day. A massive boon when compared to the measly NZ$20. But still country mice alongside the town mice status of New Zealand.

 That is only for national duty. If you are successful in getting a place in New Zealand rugby for a season, like Masirewa has, then one could end up NZ$40,000 richer, be given a car, house and a job too.

 'It has been a huge setback with more and more top players being drawn to New Zealand. The Fiji Rugby Union is in a bad position. At the moment there are no big sponsors,' adds Tagivetaua.

 With their best players choosing to opt for honours in their adopted country - 'New Zealand's' sevens exponents Masirewa and Joeli Vidiri are examples - it makes it much harder for Fiji to remain competitive at the highest level.

 Masirewa would have been a certainty to play for Fiji in Hong Kong (he represented his country last year) if he was available. But he had made it clear to his country's selectors that he would play for Fiji only if he failed to be picked for New Zealand.

 'In the last year, around 30 players have left Fiji for New Zealand, Australia and Japan,' says Tagivetaua.

 Thirty players translates into one whole rugby squad with players to spare too. Any country which can absorb such losses and still field a competitive side must be admired.

 Fijians expect their country to struggle at the Hong Kong Sevens simply for this reason. 'We needed Masirewa in the side. His absence will be felt badly,' says Tagivetaua.

 The only silver lining is the forthcoming Pan Pacific Series which will feature Argentina, Canada, Fiji, Hong Kong, Japan, Tonga, Western Samoa and the United States.

 'The country is banking a great deal on the Pan Pacific Series,' said Tagivetaua.

 If money starts to roll in from the Pan Pac Series - which until now has still not revealed whether they have signed up any lucrative TV sponsorship - Fiji and the rest of the countries can be assured of funds to develop and promote the game at home.

 The organisers of the Pan Pacific Series have promised that profits will be given to the competing countries. Fiji will hope and pray that the promised Pan Pac manna will keep their players at home.



Fijians feel the heat as top stars move overseas