1
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.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Nemani Nadolo: 'Now I cut grass, do gardens, cut hedges for a living'
3
Exclusive RugbyPass interview: Toulon co-captain David Ribbans
4
'One of the deadliest wingers in rugby' has decided his future
5
Latest Comments
I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
Go to comments