19 Feb 2011

IRB brokers agreement between Fiji rugby union and interim govt

1:09 pm on 19 February 2011

The International Rugby Board has brokered an agreement between the Fiji Rugby Union and the Fiji interim government on the union's World Cup campaign.

The agreement will see the interim regime still commit to significant investment in Fiji's Rugby World Cup campaign go ahead.

The agreement follows a visit by IRB Chief Executive Mike Miller and IRB Regional General Manager for Oceania William Glenwright to Suva earlier this month.

It followed concerns raised by the regime over the administration and governance of the FRU following the findings of a report into a lottery run by the union last year.

The concerns put at risk a 1.6 million US dollar investment the government was prepared to make towards Fiji's Rugby World Cup 2011 campaign.

The IRB delegation met with Fiji's interim Minister for Sport, Filipe Bole and the Board of the Fiji Rugby Union to discuss the concerns.

Mike Miller says an agreement was reached following the meeting which will ensure the Fiji Rugby Union can continue to drive forward the Game nationally, while also ensuring that the focus of the national team remains firmly on preparing for Rugby World Cup 2011.