Massey researchers Rochelle Stewart-Withers and Koli Sewabu, a former professional Fijian rugby player, who say Pacific Island youngsters are being exploited by overseas rugby clubs.

A Massey University study spearheaded by former Fiji international Kali Sewabu supports backs the claims that"despicable" abuse of young Pacific islands players occurs in Europe.

A team of Massey researchers interviewed more than 100 Pacific Island players based in the UK, France and Japan. Sewabu, a graduate of the university, said the biggest issues were with player salaries, international agents and the denial of human and employment rights.

Players as young as 13 are being sent abroad by offshore agents to chase the dream of playing professional rugby in the sport's elite nations.

"Players aren't getting what they're really worth," said Sewabu.

"The younger players go over there on an academy contract. They don't get paid professional rugby players' salaries but they do get accommodation and food.

"A lot them I think have the capability to play Top 14 [French rugby's top league] and the top players are earning 20 or 30 thousand euros a month."

The issue was highlighted in a recent report by The Daily Telegraph in the UK. It concentrated on the situation in France and said many Pacific islands players were being exploited by international player agents and clubs offering only short-term contracts, producing substandard paper work and incorrect visas.

Players also reported not being paid, or having to wait months for wages and, as a result, were living in substandard conditions.

Rob Nichol, the International Rugby Players' Association's chief executive, told The Daily Telegraph Pacific players were inordinately affected. "The Islanders are being preyed upon, absolutely," he said. "There are some despicable individuals who capitalise on their desperation to make a better life for themselves and their families."

Under a new court agreement, French clubs can have as many Pacific Islanders as they want in one team. In previous years they were just allowed two.

French club Brive have an academy in Fiji and Clermont have now formed a relationship with a club in Fiji too - hoping to get their pick of the best talent.

Sewabu said that local agents in the Pacific islands liaising with counterparts overseas was a big problem.

"They're forming relationships with agents offshore and sending players as young as 13, 14, or 15. A lot of these local agents have never travelled out of Fiji, Samoa or Tonga and they don't understand how things work in foreign countries.

"At the moment, there is no regulatory framework that can provide a structure to ensure players' welfare is well managed and protected.

"Flaky agents continue scouting of players who can gain them profit rather than looking out for the welfare of players."

There are also instances where Pacific Islanders have travelled to Australia or New Zealand and unwittingly breached immigration laws with incorrect visas, resulting in deportation and a ban from travelling back into those countries.

Sewabu said clubs who brought players to Europe get involved with bringing the players over did not take enough responsibility in looking after them. It could take a few years for them to build back up a good profile to be allowed out of their home country again.

As many Pacific Islanders are turning out for different nations at the World Cup, the researchers are using the tournament to raise awareness of the exploitation that's been taking place and highlight the changes being made for the future, Sewabu said.

"We are currently involved in putting together a proposition to get NZA (New Zealand Aid) funding and possibly involving Pacific Island players and World Rugby to see if we can have a regulatory framework across the Pacific – accreditation of agents to ensure the agents involved are genuine ones."