Fiji sevens coach Gareth Baber admits the issuing of player contracts has been a distraction to the team's preparations for World Series tournaments over the past fortnight.
The Fiji men finished sixth in the Sydney Sevens last weekend, after defeats by the United States and New Zealand on the final day.
Fiji were beaten by New Zealand in the fifth place playoff. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Former coach Ben Ryan blasted the Fiji Rugby Union this week for delays in offering new deals, saying players were being asked to perform in major tournaments while they were "worried about their livelihoods and contractual status."
Gareth Baber acknowledged it was not an ideal situation but expected everything to be resolved within a week.
"I think it disrupted (the players) - it gets them perhaps thinking about other things that they don't potentially need to think about," he said.
"But they all know now that they've got contracts. Up until this point some of them wouldn't have even known that they had contracts so that's a big tick for them that they know they're going to be a part of the group, the squad moving forward for this season.
"Beyond that it's just getting the details sorted and being as comfortable as possible so we can carry on with our preparations."
Gareth Baber [L] Photo: Photosport
Gareth Baber said the players are still receiving daily allowances as per normal and, once signed, the new contracts will be backdated to January.
"Obviously they were provided these contracts - yes, ok, there was a delay in that but they won't be left without money," he said.
"They'll be paid up from obviously the start of that contract, which was effectively the end of the previous contract that was given to them for last season.
"These boys they get on with their job. They have got the contracts, they know they're going to get them - it's a matter of the details and that sometimes sits within any player's season that they are dealing with contracts, either for the next season or present season, and we move forward.
"I'm confident we will get that sorted and the players will be in a better situation."
The Fiji Rugby Union introduced full-time sevens contracts in 2014 but have only ever offered one-year deals to the players.
Gareth Baber, himself contracted through to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, believed longer-term commitments would benefit all parties.
"That's obviously what the FRU want to get to as well in terms of the length of contract," he said.
Especially when it coincides with the cycle of one of the tournaments we play in but also the likes of the Olympics as well, where you can ensure you've got those players for a longer period of time.
"They've only ever had yearly contracts in Fiji and it's certainly something I would welcome coming in the future in terms of getting consistency of a group of players that you know you can push forward with."
Fiji and Samoa will square off in their opening pool match at the Sydney Sevens. Photo: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Gareth Baber said between 18 and 22 players are able to be contracted by the FRU, which includes a core group of 15-16 players plus an extended squad.
He said only seven or eight players from last year's contracted list have been offered deals for 2018.
"There is communications with the FRU but essentially I'm saying what players I want contracted at that time," he said.
"The only push-back would be, like any contract, if there was outstanding issues with a player or there was disciplinary issues with a player then that's the only pushback you would generally get," he said.
"But that would be the same all around the world - you wouldn't have an organisation that sign off on a player if there's outstanding issues in terms of discipline and/or good behaviour."
Fiji will face Sydney champions Australia on day one at the Hamilton Sevens. Photo: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
The Fiji players were presented with the contracts before leaving for last weekend's Sydney Sevens.
They have been drawn in Pool A alongside Australia, Wales and Spain for this weekend's New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton.