The Nigerian contract scam is alive and active, it seems. Midi Olympique, the French sports magazine, reports another player duped.

Apparently a Canadian club from Toronto offered the big, young Nadroga centre, Jone Wai, a contract worth €7 000 (GB£6 000; US 000; R68 000; NZ 000) per month. To secure the contract Wai was required to send €200 to a Nigerian agent, apparently to sort out visas and other paperwork. That was the last Wai heard of the contract, and it turned out that the Toronto club did not exist.

It is not the first time this has happened.

Last year Gerard Mackle placed an ad on Rugby365 in search of a coaching post, preferably in France. He got a response from somebody who said he was Swiss offering him a coaching post in the USA, promising flights, accommodation and a salary of 500 a month. He was asked to send 0 for 'processing costs'. Mackle did not fall for it.

In June 2010,  David Carrigy of the International Rugby Board sent a letter to all countries warning against the scam which targeted players and coaches seeking roles with clubs and/or academies abroad. The scam, it warned, emanated from pa person or persons based in Nigeria. It stated that police in various countries had been alerted and warned that "all players and coaches to verify the bona fides of clubs and/or academies prior to applying for positions and to exercise caution if requested to transfer money in such circumstances".