The International Rugby Board which has suspended direct funding to the Fiji Rugby Union said this action will not affect Fiji’s participation in the IRB Sevens World Series.
While responding to questions from Fijivillage on Fiji’s participation in the US and NZ 7s tournaments, IRB General Manager Oceania, William Glenwright said all costs for the core teams participating in the IRB 7s Series are covered by the Host Unions.
We asked Glenwright on whether the IRB will assist in any way if the FRU faces financial constraints to send the team to the US and NZ.
Glenwright said the IRB has already paid a participation grant to all core teams to assist with preparation costs for the upcoming 7s tournaments and Fiji’s participation should not be affected.
Glenwright said suspension of the direct funding took place after the FRU failed to agree to the implementation of key recommendations arising from a Major Union Review conducted in May last year.
He said both the IRB and the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions had attempted to reach agreement with the FRU on the need to implement key recommendations arising from the Review.
The IRB has confirmed that it will suspend all direct financial support to the Fiji Rugby Union with immediate effect until the Union adopts key financial reporting, administration and governance reforms.
IRB has 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 in 2013 and significant additional financial assistance to participate in international tournaments.
The FRU said in October 2013 the current FRU Board welcomed an IRB audit which was delayed twice by the previous management.
It said all issues highlighted will be addressed by May this year.
Acting FRU CEO and Director, Doctor Berlin Kafoa stresses that all these issues were inherited by the current FRU Board and the Board expects to clear up all these matters by end of May this year.
He also said to date FRU has utilized 200,000 of the 250,000 pounds leaving a balance of only 50,000 pounds towards the World Cup 2015 preparations.
Meanwhile FRU Board Chairman, Filimoni Waqabaca has clearly stated that the suspension of IRB funding support to the FRU is not due to Government interference, but on the need for FRU to improve its financial management, administrative and governance matters.
Waqabaca states that the Government has always supported FRU during critical periods.
Some NZ reports are saying that the suspension of funding is due to government interference although the IRB statement says nothing along these lines.
This rumour of government interference is picked up from some anti government blogsites.
Waqabaca said the report in the NZ media about Government interference in FRU is mischievous, misguided and grossly inaccurate.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
