Major sponsor for Skipper Select XV announced

The Skipper Select XVs side takes on the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua in a historic rugby match that aims to connect Fiji’s provincial talent to the professional level.

The clash dubbed the ‘Battle of Fiji’ takes place on Friday, February 6, at Churchill Park in Lautoka.

The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has announced that Subrails has come on board as the official sponsor of the Skipper Select XV for the event.

FRU chief executive officer Koli Sewabu said the partnership plays an important role in creating new opportunities for local players.

“We thanked Subrails for being part of this historic match between the top players from our provincial competition who were anticipating their encounter against Fiji’s Super Rugby Pacific team,” Sewabu said.

He said the game offered a valuable chance for provincial players to test their skills.

“The match between these two teams provided a window of opportunity for our local provincial rugby players to showcase and gauge their skills against a professional setup,” he said.

“This was more than a rugby match as it set a precedent for our provincial players in the Skipper Cup and Subrails Marama Cup in the future.

We were proud to have Subrails with us on this journey.”

Subrails recently extended its involvement in the sport by sponsoring the women’s provincial competition, the 2025 Subrails Marama Championship.

Subrails executive director Shiva Gounder said the company supported opportunities that helped develop local talent.

“At Subrails, we believed in building strong foundations in our work and in our communities,” Gounder said.

“Supporting the Skipper Select XV was a natural extension of our commitment to Fiji Rugby. This match was a vital platform for our homegrown stars to prove themselves on a national stage.”

He said the company looked forward to seeing young players rise.

“We were excited to help power this opportunity and to witness the future of Fijian rugby shine at Churchill Park,” he said.