The Fiji Rugby Union this week received a major boost from the International Rugby Board summing up to £1.9m in funds to be used in the High Performance Unit from 2009-2011.
FRU chief executive Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua confirmed that the funding, which totals FJ$5.7m, is an increase from the FJ$800,000 granted from the 2006-2008 period.
This follows Fiji’s historic quarter-final feat at last year’s Rugby World Cup in France.
“We are delighted with the increase and this reflects the efforts that that the whole team at FRU has put in,” Tavanavanua said.
The funding will help boost the high performance infrastructures, the employment of high performance managers, coaching staff and strength and conditioning experts.
“More importantly, a high performance culture has begun to flourish across all the funded Unions, which has laid the foundations for an even greater uplift in performances over the next RWC cycle,” IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said.
Funding has also increased Samoa, who receives £2.2 million which includes significant infrastructure investment. Tonga on the other hand is maintained at mid-level funding of £1.05 million.
“In saying this we are equally thankful to the IRB for funding that we will receive for 2009 to 2012,” Tavanavanua said.
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