Page 30 - IB JAN 2017

Sports
‘ decision from the people of Fiji if the 7s team ‘
... I think it would be an incredibly popular

was moved away from the FRU ...

While Sonny Bill Williams got NZ$150,000 in the lead up to Rio, what Osea Kolinisau earned, seen here in the Olympic final against Grreat Britain, paled in comparison.
Photos: IRB
n From PAGE 29 “This is a fairly small window that’s
closing rapidly and as time goes by
For every appearance on the World people’s memory will fade around
Series, the players are paid an extra what’s been happening with this team
NZ$2,000 (FJ$3,000) per tourna- and their success”.
ment, meaning they pocket an extra Ryan says the FRU has failed to make
NZ$20,000 (FJ$30,000) each at the money out of the past and present suc-
end of a series. From 2015, top players cess of the sevens team in the global
such as Sonny Bill Williams was getting arena, and the onus is on the govern-
NZ$150,000 (FJ$220,000) as the lead ment to break up the marriage and give
up to the Rio Games intensified. his proposal a chance to salvage the
The difference is the New Zealand situation.
Rugby coffers is maintained by lucrative “It’s time to hand this over to profes-
global private enterprise companies like Big shoes to fill ... New Fiji coach Gareth Barber. sionals in the area so that we’ve got long
Photo: HKRU
Adidas, AIG Insurance, Ford, Gatorade, term successful plans available to future
Sanitarium, Steinlager, and Air New get the same reception he got in 2013. and current players”.
Zealand. “I don’t want Gareth Baber to come in Ryan is confident the people of Fiji will
January and have one or two hands tied support his idea and the intelligence and
A New 7s Commercial Franchise behind his back because he’s not got the resources to set up the new business will
Nowadays, any successful sport as- funding or the players or the resource to be sourced in Fiji.
sociated with the Olympic Games has back him to continue on with the suc- “I think it would be an incredibly
the potential to build a strong business. cess,” Ryan told the ABC’s Pacific Beat. popular decision from the people of Fiji
And Ryan doesn’t want this opportunity “What alarms me is that we have one if the 7s team was moved away from
to slip, again. of the most marketable iconic sports the FRU”.
He is concerned the players playing teams, won back to back world titles, Ryan says the idea of setting up a new
in the 2016-2017 World Series that will Olympic gold medalists, and if we can’t franchise is to make money and free up
finish in May have not been contracted market them properly and get their value the FRU and the government’s financial
after two tournaments, but are being and what they are worth so the boys obligations to the FRU, who will have
paid basic camp allowances. and the program can get the money they a place on the board that will operate
So what’s happened to the Vodafone need, then it’s time for us to look at the commercially and transparently.
consortium sponsorship that still has whole system.” Whether the FRU will agree to this,
two years left to run? It seems to have In a radical move, Ryan is proposing it will need a collective effort to reach a
dissipated after the Rio Olympics. the FRU relinquish its management of consensus between the Fiji government,
The FRU says they are waiting for the Fiji 7s team to be set up as a separate World Rugby and the FRU to make it
Ryan’s successor Gareth Baber to ar- commercial franchise run by profession- happen.
rive this month before they contract the als to take full advantage of the window But Ryan has put the ball in play.
players. But Ryan is worried Barber may of opportunity created by the team’s gold n Invictus News and Features Service
medal success in Rio.

30 Islands Business, January 2017