The Fiji Rugby Union today welcomed New Zealand Rugby’s announcement that it would award a conditional licence to the Fijian Drua to participate in the Super Rugby competition from 2022.
Although still subject to the finalization of private capital funding, FRU is in the advanced stages of discussions and remains confident that it will finalise funding from one of those parties in the coming weeks.
The operations of the Fijian Drua will be conducted through a separate company, which will be majority-owned by private investors, although it will work closely with the FRU in many areas.
FRU Chairman, Conway Beg said “This is one of the most exciting developments in the history of Fiji Rugby. To be able to field a team in Super Rugby is a dream come true for our Union, our country, and our players. It will be a transformational moment in our history, allowing us to bring many of our best players’ home, and to retain our best talent in Fiji so that those players can play elite professional rugby in their homeland”.
Beg added, “Although we still have some work to do in finalising our funding, we are well progressed in not only those discussions but more broadly with other commercial partners, and we look forward to closing our discussions and moving ahead”.
CEO of Fiji Rugby, John O’Connor said “Today is another historical day of Fiji Rugby, Fiji and for Fiji wherever they live in the World. I want to acknowledge and honor the Almighty for this great achievement. Fiji Rugby has been through thick and thin, good and bad, lows and highs but through all of this, one thing that remains consistent throughout of journey, has been the love of this great God and I honor Him, first and foremost this afternoon. I also know that we have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but with God, nothing is impossible.
“We are so grateful to New Zealand Rugby in particular, who have championed our inclusion in the Super Rugby competition. We extend our heartfelt thanks to NZR Chairman Brent Impey and his CEO, Mark Robinson and their Board and management colleagues for the faith they have shown in us to get to this point. We will not let them down”.
O’Connor noted that FRU’s inclusion in Rugby Australia’s National Rugby Championship from 2017 to 2019, had allowed it to showcase the depth of playing talent in Fiji and he also thanked Rugby Australia for their support in providing that opportunity. Over 20 of the Drua players who played in the NRC have gone on to become Flying Fijians and 26 had secured professional contracts overseas, demonstrating the value of playing week in, week out at a higher level.
Beg also expressed FRU’s gratitude to World Rugby and thanked Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont for their leadership and funding support. He said, “World Rugby’s support of the Fijian Drua’s participation in the NRC was pivotal in getting us to this point, and their commitment to funding for the next three years of over FJ$4million is incredibly important to funding the team”.
Beg also noted that the Fiji Sports Commissions support for the Drua and the NRC should not be forgotten and foreshadowed that continuing support from the Fiji Government was expected.
Beg said that the addition of the Drua will create over 65 new jobs, injecting in excess of FJ$6million in salaries alone into the economy. With other spending and taxes, the economic impact is expected to exceed $15 million annually.
