Fiji, Pasifika teams to join Super Rugby in ‘new dawn’ for region

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-u...14-p57j3l.html


Fiji general manager of rugby Simon Raiwalui hopes the inclusion of a Fijian side in Super Rugby next year will ensure the next Marika Koroibete plays for his country of birth, rather than the Wallabies.

The Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika were on Wednesday granted conditional licences for entry into the Super Rugby competition in 2022.
World Rugby last month pledged a $2.16 million annual package to guide the teams through their first three years in the competition and New Zealand Rugby has now deemed the expansion to a 12-team competition viable, pending final business plan approval on June 30.

COVID-19 permitting, NZR and Rugby Australia’s preference is to return to a typical Super Rugby season format next year rather than splitting two thirds of the season down national lines.

Raiwalui, a former Wallabies assistant coach under Michael Cheika, hopes the introduction of a Fijian team will mark the start of a new era for the national side, too.

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“It would be a massive benefit for Fiji rugby. We want to keep the majority of our talent and give them the opportunity to play at the highest domestic level before going on to represent the Flying Fijians,” he told the Herald.

“That would be massive. It’s the next step in our evolution. It’s the next step to put us up where the big boys are.”

The Pasifika team is expected to be based in south Auckland and the Fijians – who were part of the now-defunct NRC – could play some matches in Sydney.
That’s one thing that’s been brought up,” Raiwalui said. “Obviously Fiji is a small market. We would definitely look at playing matches externally. Whether that’s in Australia, New Zealand or whatever other opportunities become available to us.

“With the Fijian and Pasifika communities in both countries and throughout south-east Asia, there are huge communities and huge support for anything Fiji rugby. That’s definitely an opportunity.”

Raiwalui believes the lure of returning home will help bring many Fijian stars plying their trade abroad back to Fiji in the near future.

“One thing we don’t struggle with is talent. That’s our strongest resource. Obviously, it’s going to come down to timing with contracts and turnover,” he said.

“The first couple of years it’s going to be about building that initial squad. We have obviously talked to a lot of our talent worldwide. Whether that’s Australia, New Zealand or Europe.

“And there is a lot of interest to come back at the first opportunity to come and live in Fiji. To work and live in their home country, with their families and be able to earn a competitive salary

“It’s going to come down to timing but it’s not going to just be a one-year project. It’s about planning over the next two, three, four or five years and targeting guys we want to bring back.”

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Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos welcomed the news, declaring it the start of a new era for rugby in the Fijian and Pasifika regions.

“We look forward to continuing our engagement with NZR on this process as we plan towards 2022,” Marinos said.

“Once further conditions around the licences have been met, we look forward to formalising the composition of the teams in what will hopefully prove a new dawn for rugby in the region.”

NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said the teams were now in the final stages of planning for the 2022 season.

“We are moving into the final phase of planning for 2022 and beyond, and we have confidence that Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua will be able to meet the conditions of the licence, which includes final sign off on a sustainable business plan by 30 June,” Robinson said.

“In the next two months we will be working with Rugby Australia and the two Pasifika teams to formalise their place in the new competition for what we believe will kick off an exciting new era for the professional game.”