“We now need to move away from bootstrap resources to a solid business base from which we will win the RWC.
Flying Fijians (left-right) Temo Mayanavanua, Samu Tawake, Teti Tela, Selestino Ravutaumada, Waisea Nayacalevu (captain),
Sam Matavesi, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Semi Radradra, Peni Ravai and Luke Tagi after the 17-12 win over Georgia in Stade de
Bordeaux, France, on October 1, 2023. Photo: World Rugby
The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) will need to establish a concrete business plan to cater for the Flying Fijians team to win a Rugby World Cup title.
Fiji Rakavi Football Union Limited (FRFUL) chairman John San-day made the comment during an exclusive interview with FijiNikua magazine. The FRFUL is the operational company of the Fiji Rugby Union. He said Fiji has the talent as the national XV’s side have qualified in three RWC quarterfinal with little resources.
Sanday who was part of the Flying Fijian side which qualified for Fiji’s first World Cup quarterfinal said they had nothing but talent, fitness, grit and love for Fiji.
“Our ultimate goal is to win the Rugby World Cup,” he told FijiNIKUA’s December edition which was launched on Tuesday at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva. “We now need to move away from bootstrap resources to a solid business base from which we will win the RWC.
“The main thing for me is to stablise the finances of FRU, right size it, strengthen governance, whilst also building a work agenda that can increase the revenue streams for FRU. In order to achieve this, it’s really about back to basics from a corporate perspective.”
He indicated board sub-commit-tees and their charters will be set-up to assist the board run specific projects that has been approved for implementing; it will be announced early 2025.
“We aim to populate these sub-committees by co-opting good people from outside the organisation.
“”Our initial focus will be on widening the revenue base plus capital project.”
Sanday agreed that Fiji needs a rugby player’s association when he was asked by FijiNIKUA; it will be setup and they be voicing the interests of players to FRU to improve outcomes.
‘It is anticipated that a Fiji Rugby Players Association will be formed. There is a provision that a nominee of this association will become a member of the board.”
Sanday added that the board will also review the staff and structure of FRU to ensure they keep up with the changes of the game globally and see whether the current capabilities align with the required skills to take Fiji Rugby to tier one status.
FijiNIKUA is the latest bimonthly magazine who’s Publisher and di-rector Malik Asghar of Max Marketing and Publishing Ltd; Mai TV director Stanley Simpson is the editor.
Note: This interview was first published on FijiNIKUA and TEIVOVO’s Issue 71.
feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj
