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The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) have been busy of late and suggestions are they have maybe turned a corner in terms of establishing meaningful partnerships, commercial decisions to ensure revenue and a new leadership group that all hint of a union that is turning a corner in perception and financial sustainability,
In the short term, attention is on their national teams as the Flying Fijians compete in the Pacific Nations Cup, and the Fijiana at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.
Fiji Rugby has been negotiating to host 'home' Test matches to be played in the UK as three Test matches next year will be against Six Nations teams - England, Scotland and Wales in the new Rugby Nations Championship.
The new competition includes the Six Nations teams, the Rugby Championship teams as well as Japan and Fiji although the full schedule is yet to be released by World Rugby.
FRU Board chairman and former Fiji player John Sanday said the planning comes as the Men’s XV team are a Tier 1 side and will be competing against top-10 ranked teams with the aforementioned Tests scheduled for the July international Test window next year.
The FRU wants to host the matches in the three UK countries to maximise financial returns which is indicative of the change in commercial mindset. Other reports suggest that the Rugby Nations Championship has conditions that have to be met in order to host home games which the FRU cannot currently fulfill.
Sanday explained, "In order for the FRU to become a global brand and a financially successful business, we have to make the tough but smart decisions in the interim. We will eventually get the games here once we can demonstrate that it will be financially successful. There is just no way we can host it at home at the moment as we don't have the stadium with the minimum stipulations. This is business, and it must be economically viable."
The FRU said it was still looking at securing the right stadiums for each match but the international game is still a results-based one and the national teams winning Tests is vital in attracting major sponsors.
"Moving higher up in the rankings and showing the world a great brand and style of winning rugby, we can attract better terms and also pitch to bigger global brands for major sponsorship," added Sanday.
The November 2025 tour will see the Fijians face Ireland, France and Italy.
Mark Evans, CEO of the Fijian Drua, has also urged the British and Irish Lions to play matches in Fiji before their 2029 New Zealand tour and for broadcast revenue and consistent high-level matches to support Fijian rugby’s future.
In 2025, the FRU signed agreements with Qatar Rugby and China Rugby Football Association.
The more recent signing with Qatar comes as several established unions and World Rugby court the wealthy nation at a time when new revenue and financial streams are being explored globally.
“The Fiji Rugby Union is currently undergoing a comprehensive transformation aimed at fostering medium to long-term engagement with members of the global Fijian diaspora, particularly in the United Arab Emirates and the broader Middle East region” said the Sanday.
He and Ambassador Koya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Qatar Rugby Federation (QRF), which they see as a significant step towards enhancing bilateral sports collaboration between the two rugby nations.
It is also an effort to better connect and use the connections within the global Fiji diaspora which in the UAE includes several national team representatives. Six players of Fijian heritage represented the UAE national XVs team which came second in the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship but missed out on Rugby World Cup qualification when they lost to Namibia in a one match playoff.
Fiji Sevens player Saimoni Rokini is also expected to play a “crucial role in the new vision of the Fiji Rugby Union for the development of rugby in the UAE.”
The expansion of partnerships with Fijian communities in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the USA, and Middle East will look to “secure funding, sponsorships, and talent development opportunities in which the FRU also aims to create pathways for young Fijian players abroad, connecting them with professional opportunities while simultaneously developing a national academy in Fiji.”
The signing of the MoU between the FRU and the China Rugby Football Association (CRFA) provides the framework for Fiji and China to explore avenues for deeper cooperation and could present an opportunity to widen Fiji’s sporting influence.
The FRU said they will review their policy on:
Player Representation
Stabilising and strengthening financial management to ensure the long-term sustainability of Fijian rugby
Creating Global Pathways to help support the development of young Fijian players abroad
Address past issues related to financial management and player welfare, including implementing a new constitution, strengthening accountability, and improving communication.
The Fijian diaspora are believed to send home more than US $1 billion in remittances every year, which represents nearly 10 per cent of Fiji’s GDP.
The FRU said a major development plan is the development of a new stadium and they are negotiating with landowners in Lawaki, Vuda, for a 40-acre parcel of land to construct a new stadium. This forms part of a wider plan to solve infrastructure issues, especially the shortage of playing grounds for rugby competitions in Fiji.
FRU Chairman Sanday also mentioned plans in local media for another stadium on the island’s western side and were identifying 100 acres of land in the Eastern Division for future development.
He said, “All of that is packaged into one, so we are now looking at how we can better position or play our games on our own grounds, so we are looking at one on this side of the island, and the other one is on the western side of the island, and maybe later on we can have one up in the north.”
According to media reports in Fiji, the Fiji Sports Commission (FSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the growth of women’s rugby by allocating a government grant of $1.5 million to support the Fijiana 15s team’s preparation and participation in the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
FSC Chief Executive Peter Mazey said this had been important for the team’s high-performance training programme and their recent tour of the United States. It also complements the support provided to Fijiana head coach Ioan Cunningham, and a stable high-performance environment for the team.
He said, “The Fijiana team continues to inspire the nation with their resilience, passion, and performance. We are proud to play our part in their journey and are confident they will represent Fiji with pride on the world stage.”
Fiji Rugby Union Acting CEO Koli Sewabu added, “This funding plays a vital role in ensuring the Fijiana 15s have the best possible preparation for the Rugby World Cup. It reflects our shared belief in the potential of women’s rugby to inspire, unite and elevate Fiji on the global stage.”
Prof. Satish Chand and Jim Sanday have written that FRU, with the backing of government and support from local fans and our diaspora, are positioned to lead a programme that will monetise Fiji’s rugby brand and invest in the next generation of Fijian rugby players.
They want to:
Establish a world-class Centre of Excellence in the rugby academy to identify and nurture talent from across Fiji and connect them to professional pathways both at home and abroad.
The Return of Talent Programme would be embedded in the recommended Diaspora Policy to ease the path for overseas Fijians to return to contribute to building a stronger rugby system at home.
Use elements of Fiji players in the other Armed Forces to help develop psychology and high-performance training into the national rugby programme, to equip players with the mental discipline and focus needed to compete at the highest level.
The FRU AGM confirmed the appointment of Ms. Lailanie Burnes as Director of Rugby. She is a former Fijiana captain, World Rugby coach educator, and media professional, and has a vision based on inclusivity, grassroots empowerment, and high-performance development for both men’s and women’s pathways.
Some of the highlights from the FRU AGM include:
The year ending 2024, the FRU recorded a modest net income of $105,962 for the financial year ended 31 December 2024, compared to $1.07 million the previous year because of Rugby World Cup expenses.
Total Gross income reached $29.7 million, primarily driven by corporate sponsorships, Government and World Rugby grants.
They addressed domestic rugby competitions including the generation of gate revenue retention and branding flexibility for unions.
There is a need for better systems to track and enforce player release fees from overseas clubs. The FRU outlined plans to launch a centralised Rugby Global Agency licensing structure, working in alignment with Fiji’s employment laws.
It feels like probably the most popular country in global rugby is growing up and learning from its past. For too long has Fiji promised false dawns in terms of governance and financial accountability but these recently announced plans, agreements and vision if successfully implemented could finally see Fiji reach its full potential as a rugby powerhouse.