The Fiji Rugby Union is confident it will improve its financial situation.
FRU Acting CEO and Director Dr Berlin Kafoa said they are in a challenging stage at the moment but they will bounce back.
IRB General Manager Oceania William Glenwright said they suspended their funding to FRU after they failed to agree to the implementation of key recommendations arising from a Major Union Review conducted in May last year.
IRB also expressed concerns that the financial position of FRU is unsustainable and could create instability and impact on key IRB-funded development and high performance programmes.
The IRB committed FJ$3.3million in direct funding to the FRU last year and significant additional financial assistance to participate in international tournaments.
While responding to Glenwright’s comments, FRU’s Dr Kafoa said they have good reasons for not agreeing to some recommendations by the IRB after the review last year.
Dr Kafoa added they will announce the sponsors this week but it’s more than the previous sponsorship.
Meanwhile, the IRB confirms that its decision to suspend direct funding to the Fiji Rugby Union has nothing to do with Government interference.
When questioned by Fijivillage on NZ media reports claiming that the IRB funding suspension is due to government interference, IRB’s General Manager Oceania, William Glenwright said he is not aware of any such rumors and FRU’s Acting CEO has been keeping him updated on the recruitment process of the new Chief Executive Officer.
Glenwright said the IRB only raised concerns over government interference in the affairs of the FRU in the lead-up to Rugby World Cup 2011.
Story by: Vijay Narayan & Akuila Cama
