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Flying Fijians land £1.36m World Cup sponsorship deal
By Chris Jones
The Flying Fijians, who are in the same Rugby World Cup pool as Eddie Jones’s Australia and Warren Gatland’s Wales, have received a massive boost with FIJI Water agreeing a sponsorship deal worth £1.36m (Fijian$3.8 m) to support the team in France.
The deal builds on previous support FIJI Water has provided for the Flying Fijians when it was a supporting sponsor of the team in 2020 during the Autumn Nations Cup. For the past three years, the FRU and Flying Fijians have been supported through the Fiji Sports Commission and government funding.
Fiji have appointed former Saracens lock and Australian forwards coach Simon Raiwalui as head coach to take the team to the World Cup following Vern Cotter’s decision to stand down from the role. Raiwalui has just completed the first of his planned trips to Europe to speak to the key players who will join those currently involved with Super Rugby Fijian Drua squad.
The Flying Fijians will now be called the Fiji Water Flying Fijians and the Fiji Water logo will appear on the Flying Fijians kit and jersey during the Pacific Nations Cup and also in the two test matches against France and England leading into the Rugby World Cup campaign that kicks off against Wales in Bordeaux on September 10.
FRU Acting Chairman Daniel Whippy said the sponsorship agreement had been settled after meetings that took place the past days with and his team.
Sale Sorovaki, Fiji Rugby Unions acting CEO said: “FIJI Water has been one of our most loyal and important partners for many years and today we have further strengthened our relationship with them. This significant support will put our team in an even better position to win in France.”
Executive Vice President Craig Cooper, of FIJI Water and its parent company, The Wonderful Company, said: “FIJI Water takes great pride in our association with the Flying Fijians, and we are excited to expand our support for the team as they compete for this year’s World Cup. Our FIJI Water employees, along with the employees of our sister companies, NPDL and Williams & Gosling, and our owners are committed to a strong and thriving partnership with Fiji. We are grateful to Prime Minister Rabuka for his support and to FRU Acting Chairman Whippy and his entire team for the opportunity to broaden our sponsorship of the team. We look forward to celebrating together a strong performance at the World Cup.”
Fiji’s World Cup poolin France is completed by Georgia and Portugal.
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Latest Comments
Robertson should have been a bit more experimental, preparing for the trip up North. Cane should been rested to allow for the Savea (7) and Sititi (8) pairing to be given a run because they appear to be the new way forward. Six is far from settled on with Blackadder only a temporary fix as like his other loosies he is either too short, too light or too slow, and so his best role is cover. ALB,Proctor or both should have been given a run as Australia's midfield is an ever changing experiment and then Reiko could have been put back on the left wing with Telea on the right. Will Jordan could then come on later to fullback or wing.
Go to commentsAgreed for the most part. And perhaps Dmac needed a period were he is the 'Hobson's choice' too.
Yes and no, they main concern I had from the situation is Razor didn't really explain why they had developed differing opinions, had he? I've seen too many things happen in life to jump the gun. Fall all we know it was a locked in choice before they found the difference last year and played out this year to see if they were recoverable. I can certainly see where it would be a valid criticism to suggest he spent too much time reviewing his players tripping overseas and not enough work with his team at that time. But things like Tony Brown not even being contacted in the lead up to the naming of the squad are endemic in the union, and for much just as much blame should be laid on someone like Wayne Smith. Some like Mitch would have been aval at the same time too I'd think.
Ultimately I see MacDs time at the Blues much as I saw Ian Fosters time at the Chiefs. Heavily overshadowed by their successors but you could find something good in there if you wanted. Same here. This will play out.
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