Big plans ahead for Fijiana

The Vodafone Fijiana XVs side is expected to play against some higher ranked teams next year.

This was negotiated by the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) during their meeting with World Rugby head of High Performance Unit Nicky Ponsford.

FRU board chairman John Sanday said the response was positive.

Sanday and board director Cathy Wong were in London last week attending the 17th World Rugby Assembly and World Rugby Council meeting while Lailanie Burnes attended the three-month World Rugby scholarship programme.

“At this stage it is looking like a minimum of six high quality games for the Fijian women to be held next year onwards,” Sanday said.

“The details will still need to be finalised and communicated back to FRU.

He added World Rugby was pleased with the efforts of Fijiana at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England where they lost two games and a win against Wales.

“Overall though, the Women’s Rugby World Cup has turned out be a huge success and augurs well for the women’s game into the future. FRU will continue to invest in our women’s game and the Fijiana to make them world beaters at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2029,” he added.

Sanday said several key matters fundamental to the game’s sustainability and growth were discussed and tabled at the General Assembly.

“Back dropped by many challenges currently sweeping the world, the increasing challenges brought on by the digital world that has caught up the younger demographic and an ageing rugby fan population.”

He said a new strategic review was also tabled during the meeting and the overall emphasis of the new strategy was to focus on strengthening and sustaining the game.

Sanday said the main outcomes were:

- Maintenance of core funding levels to members and supplement with greater service provider support;

- the need to support the economic base of the sport and Rugby World Cup revenues;

- Re-imagine funding as investment with a greater emphasis on Return on Investment.

“Furthermore, there was a strong need for more diversification of the sport, given that the game depends mainly on just a few profitable events and a few markets of scale like United Kingdom and France.

"For example, 90 per cent of World Rugby revenue comes from the men’s World Cup and two thirds of the games revenues. World Rugby’s other revenue come from just two markets, the UK and France.

"On the other side, the number of member unions has trebled in the last 35 years and now stands at 134 and they mostly rely on World Rugby funding to help them run their unions. These are the real challenges that will need to be funded to grow the game worldwide, thus the need for diversification and new markets.”

Sanday said based on the findings, there was a need by World Rugby to invest in new markets, and a growth market plan has been set for growing rugby in the largest sporting market in the world, USA.

“The success of this strategy will have far reaching impact so the need to invest wisely and execute carefully will be paramount. It is a very competitive market too, so it will be interesting.

“Fiji Rugby supports the new strategic plan and we will do our part to continue to build the global game.

"It would be in our interest to see the growth of rugby in the USA market so we can supply our players, coaches and other specialists into that market as a pathway for employment and remittances.

Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj