This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
At the Rugby World Cup, a unique blend of professionals and amateurs has come together to compete. Among them are players who have had to balance their passion for the sport with their day jobs.
Siua Maile, a Tongan hooker, was working as a roofer in Christchurch when he received a call from the national rugby team. Three weeks later, he was playing against the All Blacks.
Maile's story is not an isolated one. Many players from lower-ranked teams have had to make significant financial sacrifices to feature in the tournament. Fiji's Viliame Mata, for instance, was working as a joiner before being spotted by the country's sevens coach and winning Olympic gold in 2016.
"I would say 15 to 20 players made themselves unavailable. We can't pay our players much," coach Toutai Kefu told Britain's Daily Mail, revealing that they are paid "about $600 per week" during the tournament.
Assistant coach Dan Cron revealed that they discovered Maile via Facebook, saying, "I know that sounds funny, but it's much what it is. We had a hooking crisis when we were in Tonga and we had to find one."
Maile's debut was a baptism by fire, as he was thrown into the deep end during Tonga's 92-7 obliteration at the hands of the All Blacks. Despite the odds, he managed to win a place on the plane to Japan.
It's not just the Pacific Island nations that have to make do on a shoestring. During a Japanese national team tour to England, it emerged that amateur players were getting a daily allowance of just 2,000 yen ($19).
Uruguay fly-half Felipe Berchesi, who has a professional contract in France, spoke about the struggles of his amateur teammates, saying, "You have to be crazy to play rugby in Uruguay. You have to really want to play. They are mad."
Matchday appearance fees allow some players to spend less time at work and more time playing, but many still face a battle to make ends meet, Berchesi said.
