'For the brave' - FRU chairman tells about the pain of dealing with Tier 1 nations

It has been a remarkable achievement for the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) to secure reputable venues like the Cardiff City Stadiums, Hill Dickinson Stadium and Murrayfield Stadium to host their Rugby Championship home matches in July.

Speaking to SUNsports yesterday, FRU board chairman John Sanday said the negotiations and the whole process has not been only exciting but also challenging.

“We come up against the corporate world style of management of Tier 1 rugby nations and now can see how and why their financial engine rooms work to generate funds for the growth and development of their game,” he said.

“That is the reason why they are Tier 1. We are getting there and getting there fast.”

Sanday said the plan along with the support of the board is to turn FRU into modern global corporation.

“We are taking Fiji Rugby into the modern era. Therefore, the choice to host our home games in the UK was for the purpose of gaining a corporate world- class education in the business of rugby.

“In this way, we are exposing our young talented management team at FRU to world class rugby business issues.

“So, as I promised at the AGM (annual general meeting) in 2024 when I was nominated, I will turn FRU into a world class organisation that will take Fiji Rugby into the modern era. We are on that journey now.”

Sanday said the secondary part of the plan was to impress SANZAR (SANZAR oversees Super Rugby and The Rugby Championship in rugby union) that Fiji Rugby can do as good as any of their members.

“We can bring our corporate A game to the table and this should help us build our case to apply for admission into SANZAR to play regularly in their competition when the time is right.”

“It is not for the faint-hearted, in also saying that, this is the first time ever FRU negotiated with venues, unions, event managers, marketing experts and so on in the UK.

“We were doing all this from our humble wooden office at Gordon Street. All the gate takings are for us in these three games, but it is held in the Summer (July) when most Britons are away on holidays in Spain and South of France.

“We are trying to maximise our ticket revenue while trying to make out costs as efficient as possible. These are the additional challenges.”

Sanday said they want to showcase FRU and Fiji to the world in July.

“For me personally, I have had to sacrifice my time away from running my business all of last year.

“This has cost me quite dearly, but I am doing this for something I love and one that I believe can bring positive change to the youths of Fiji as rugby did to me.

“But, all the pieces of the puzzle are starting to fall into place and we are progressing pretty well.

“We can only learn from the very best and I can assure Fiji, we are learning and growing with each week.

“Well there is only a limit they can go to with their assistance, beyond that, it is business. We have to pay.

“That is where the negotiations heat up but FRU has taken the view that we will always adhere to Tier 1 principles and back our position with clear cut commercial arguments and no emotional rants.”