The Fijian Drua rugby team received a timely boost from Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited yesterday.

This was to assist them for the Australia National Rugby Competition (NRC) which kicks off next week in Brisbane.

“Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited is the first official sponsor to come on board for the Fijian Drua team,” Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer John O’Connor said.

“It is fantastic that we have such a quality sponsor for the team.

“Their support is appreciated and it will give both our brands a stronger global presence.

“FRU and Paradise Beverages Limited are both standouts in their respective fields and it is great to begin what we hope is a long and winning relationship.”

Paradise Beverages Limited general manager  Mike Spencer said: “For the past 41 years, Paradise Beverages has been, and continues to be, the major sponsor of grassroot rugby in Fiji.

“Much of this sponsorship has been of 7s rugby tournaments around the country with all the gold medal winning Fijian 7s members playing in many of our sponsored tournaments. We are extremely proud and honoured to be sponsoring the Fijian Drua, a 15s side that contains many members of the Flying Fijians.

“Based on our Vodafone Flying Fijians performance this year, beating Scotland, Italy, Tonga and Samoa, I am sure that the Fijian Drua will give a good account of themselves in the NRC, against many Super Rugby players, and trust our sponsorship will further help the development of rugby in Fiji,” Spencer said.

The newly-unveiled Fijian Drua team kit will feature the logo of the award-winning Ratu Premium Rum by Rum Company of Fiji on the back of the jersey and the country’s most popular beer brand, Fiji Gold beer, on the left sleeve.

The 2017 NRC competition will be contested over nine rounds and run for 11 weeks, with four games hosted in Fiji. The Fijian Drua will kick off their season opener on September 2 against Brisbane City at Ballymore. And on September 9th, they play Melbourne Rising at the Harlequin Oval in Melbourne.

The newly-created Fijian Drua rugby team was officially launched by the FRU last week and is named after the historic Fijian double canoe used in battle and transporting warriors.

Edited by Osea Bola

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