LIONS TALK STARTS

The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has started the process to have the Flying Fijians play the British & Irish Lions on their New Zealand tour in 2029.

The was revealed to SUNsports yesterday by FRU board chairman John Sanday.

“This is by no means already guaranteed but we have started the process and we will continue to follow up and provide all the needed support to ensure we lock this game in,” he said.

Sanday added that he approved acting FRU chief executive officer (CEO) Koli Sewabu, general manager marketing and sponsorship Avnil Pratap to accompany three directors on the Northern Hemisphere tour. They met with key firms in London that they have engaged regarding FRU’s brand valuation and brand global strategy exercise.

They also had serious discussions on future areas of engagement and possible cooperation with the RFU (Rugby Football Union) president Deborah Griffin and CEO Bill Sweeney.

“I am happy to report that RFU have been extremely helpful and are ready to support Fiji Rugby in our expansion and global plans and have even offered to provide us office space, plus use of their High Performance facilities.”

Sanday said they’ve continued their meeting in Paris, France ahead of this week’s Test while Pratap and rugby director, Lailanie Burnes have returned home on Monday.

France

Yesterday, they met with the Stade Francais executives, which is the Top 14 club of Flying Fijians lock Setareki Turagacoke and dashing winger Peniasi Dakuwaqa.

The meet was facilitated by FRU rep on the SANZAAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby) working committee, Julian Vulakoro.

“We discussed areas where FRU can better support the Fijian players here and several areas were agreed to where FRU and the Fiji Rugby Players Association can be used to produce a much more effective support programme for our younger players,” Sanday said.

“This is especially those that have just arrived to their rugby club in France. We have meetings each day this week with key people and also with the French Minister of Sport.”

He added that they would also be capping former Flying Fijians players in France at Sunday’s Test match against the Les Bleus in Bordeaux.

“We thank the prayers and support given by the Fiji rugby family and this has been a big boost to us on our quest to finalise our Tier 1 status and building Fiji rugby into a global phenomenon. ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day,’ as the old saying goes,” Sanday said.

“We are striving to do our best and from our side, we are ensuring that the investment made to bring executives on this trip has a bigger payback profile in terms of its impact and financial return to Fiji rugby.

“I can say, just walking into the club facilities of Stade Francais and seeing how the club works on a professional level and dialoging with club director has been a game changer for all of us. And then standing in their stadium and getting a holistic view on how professional rugby works at a club level has made the trip most worthwhile from a cost benefit aspect.”

Meanwhile, the match against France will kick-off on Sunday at 8.10am (Fiji time) at the Stade Matmut- Atlantique.

Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj