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Nemani Nadolo pens touching open letter

Cape Town - Fijian wing Nemani Nadolo has penned a touching open letter in which he clarifies why he and his team-mates play international rugby. 

Fiji are set to play England at Twickenham on Sunday and the match is set to generate millions for the stadium, city and the Rugby Football Union (RFU). 

According to a report published on the Fiji Times website, England's players will receive around £22 000 (R400 000) each for the match, while Fiji's players will take home just £400 (R7 200) each. 

It has led to suggestions that the Fijian players have felt hard-done-by.

Nadolo, the biggest star in the Fijian side who played for the Crusaders in this year's Super Rugby, has set the record straight.

In an open letter he wrote to Rugby Pass, Nadolo says that none of the players in the Fijian squad are complaining about the financial imbalance between the sides going into the match.

"It is deeply troubling to us, not to mention disappointing, that the aforementioned reports suggest we would ever put money ahead of honour and respect for the jersey we have been entrusted to wear," Nadolo wrote.

"If you could spend an hour in our camp you would see that it is love and camaraderie, not money, that binds us together. We are brothers in arms. We play for our families and our people.

"If we as players were simply in this for the money, we would not be here. We are renowned as a people who are humble and happy and as a playing group we hope we embody those characteristics as much as any other Fijian. We are here because it is a privilege to play for Fiji."

Nadolo added that it was important for the conversation surrounding funding and resources for the smaller rugby-playing nations to continue, but that the players wanted to leave that to those tasked with that responsibility. 

England v Fiji kicks off at 16:30. 

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