Harlequins have been accused of being 'spiteful' after refusing to release centre Vili Satala to play for Fiji against Wales this weekend.

A fax from the Fijian RFU requesting his release from the London club did not arrive until November 4, despite being dated October 28.

As a result, the first official contact between the two parties was a call from the Fijian camp to Quins team manager Mike Scott on Saturday asking the whereabouts of Satala.

"I told them he was probably in about the same place as me, in his car, driving to The Stoop for our match that day," Scott told PA International.

"That was the first we had heard from them that he was wanted for the game. We had had no communication whatsoever."

The International Rugby Board requires clubs to release players for international duty on the condition they are given 14 days notice.

However, the Fijian RFU say the fax was sent on October 28, which would have been outside the 14-day period but unlikely to have prompted Quins to turn down the request.

"By the time we found out it was too late to go legal or anything of that nature," Fijian press officer Barry Michael said.

"I understand that the management had talked to Harlequins before that, and they had definitely talked to the player, and he wanted to play for Fiji.

"I think to be technical like this is being a bit spiteful."

When asked about the reaction of Fijian coach Mac MacCallion to Satala's unavailability, Michael admitted the former SAS soldier had been less than impressed.

"I don't think I can really repeat some of it," he said.

However, Scott said the decision not to release Satala at such short notice was simply a practical matter.

"The whole point of it (the 14-day requirement) is to be able to plan ahead, who is going to be available," he said.

Harlequins have named Satala at centre to play against Saracens at Vicarage Road on Sunday.