CJ Patel Group has given a total of $380,000 in sponsorship for the new season of the Skipper Cup tournament which starts next week.

Out of this amount $30,000 will be given to each of the teams in the premier grade while $5000 will be given to each of the Under-20 teams to help with their preparations plus rugby balls, jersey kits and food rations for the season.

Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer John O’Connor has expressed his gratitude to CJ Patel for their support and contribution to this year’s Skipper Cup competition.

“This is an important milestone for Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) and we are looking forward to the competition (season which begins) next week,” O’Connor said.

“We thank CJ Patel for their sponsorship and contributions which will help ensure that it will be a successful tournament.

“We have worked tirelessly with CJ Patel to address the concerns teams had last year about distribution in kind.

“We have put in place a process to ensure that the contribution of CJ Patel reaches the clubs and their players.

“We also thank CJ Patel for their contribution in cash. Each premier division during the season will be given $30,000 to help manage their premier teams and $5000 for minor teams.

“I must thank CJ Patel for their understanding. They have provided some spaces in your playing kits to put your sponsor’s logo so that we can work in hand in making sure that you prepare your teams well,” he told teams.

“We hope to work closer with them to uplift the standard of rugby in Fiji and lift the level of competition because at the end of the day rugby is the winner.”

CJ Patel’s Viti Foods general manager Saman Amarasinghe said: “Our association with FRU through the sponsorship is to basically assist in the development of the players and their team in a very tough competition.

“Skipper Cup has become a household name throughout Fiji and it has contributed a lot to moulding the players we have now who are doing a good job in representing the country.

“It is also our corporate responsibility to give something back to society so I think this is the right thing to do and we wish all the teams the best during the season.”

The 2016 Skipper Cup kicks off on April 23.

Edited by Manasa Kalouniviti

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