Fijian Super Rugby franchise plans well advanced - report

LONDON (Reuters) - Plans to establish a Super Rugby franchise in Fiji to stop top players leaving the Pacific Islands are well advanced and have over 20 million pounds in backing, the Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

Fijian Super Rugby franchise plans well advanced - report

(Reuters)





The team would be based in a 20,000-seater stadium close to Fiji's airport with four large international companies and two major kit manufacturers prepared to fund the project, the paper said.

About 19 percent of the world's professional rugby players are originally from the Pacific Islands but many represent world champions New Zealand, Australia, France and England after qualifying under residency rules.

"I believe the impact of this plan would see Fiji win the World Cup one day," said Ben Ryan, the English coach who led his adopted country to the Olympic sevens gold medal this year.

"We have shown in sevens what we can do and if you just look at the impact the Fiji players are having on the tier one countries, they are their star players in New Zealand, Australia, England and France."

Ryan said in future it was vital to keep the top players in the Pacific Islands.

"It is not pie in the sky," he added. "Pick a world XV from the players that are playing outside Fiji and Samoa in the other international teams and you would get a team that is there or thereabouts."

Some of the world's largest companies with links to the Pacific Islands are supporting the plan, giving the potential new franchise more money than any other Super Rugby team.

"We could make them the best club side in the world. Imagine the talent we have got in France? They would all be on the first flight back," Ryan said.

He has discussed the proposals with World Rugby which has set up a working group to review residency rules.

Fijian-born back-row forward Nathan Hughes made his England debut last weekend and could start against his home country on Saturday.

Ryan believes a Super Rugby franchise in Fiji and the possibility of another one in Tonga would have more impact on the player exodus than extending residency qualifications from three to five years.

"Ever since I went to the island I've been thinking about how we get Fiji, Tonga and Samoa to be consistent World Cup quarter-finalists and knocking on the doors of the semi-finals," he said.

"The number one thing is to have a Super Rugby franchise. It is the simplest way of doing it. It sends the strongest message and would reap the quickest results."





(Reporting by Ed Osmond; Editing by Tony Jimenez)


Share
3 min read

Published

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
Fijian Super Rugby franchise plans well advanced - report | SBS News