Flying Fijians land £1.36m World Cup sponsorship deal

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.