The Fiji Rugby Union will receive increased funding from the International Rugby Board for the next four years from next year.

This is after the IRB Council underlined its continued commitment to the development of the global game, by approving a new 48-million pound Strategic Investment Programme for the 2009-2012 period, which is 141 million Fijian dollars.

This substantial investment programme, which forms a key element of a worldwide expenditure of FD$450-million, will include increased funding for Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 Unions and has been made possible by the continued commercial success and growth of the Rugby World Cup.

The IRB will soon announce the allocations for the 2009-2012 period but it will mean significant funding for 22 Unions across Tiers 1, 2, 3 and continued investment in the now established and successful IRB tournaments such as IRB Pacific Rugby Cup, IRB Pacific Nations Cup, IRB North America 4 and IRB Nations Cup.

Meanwhile Fiji Rugby Union in their Annual General meeting last month has requested the IRB to double their grant for the next four years from $2.3 million to $5-million.

FRU for the 2006-2008 period received $2.3 million grant from the IRB.