FRU MAKES PROFIT
Tax & Customs expert joins Board
After a busy 2019 Rugby World Cup season, the Fiji Rugby Union was able to reocrd a modest profit of $88,590 compared to $569,343 in 2018.
The FRU’s audited financial was produced during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Novotel Suva Lami Bay yesterday.
FRU chief executive officer John O’Connor said, this was a good achievement considering that they had spent huge amounts in the preparation of the Flying Fijians for the World Cup.
“In terms of the performance of our rugby finances, we had revenue of about $24 million,” he said. “The cost we incurred was about $23m and at the end of the year we achieved a small profit of over $88,000.”
The FRU were able to sign our players on a contract fee of $35,000 per player during the World Cup preparations.
This did not include an additional $300 per day allowance. Players sign on fees and allowance was about $2.3m making the Flying Fijians one of best paid Tier 2 teams.
“We wanted to give the boys the best preparation, look after their welfare and to go there and perform but unfortunately they did not perform to expectations,” O’Connor said.
The remarkable achievement of 2019 was the Fiji Airways Fijiana XVs qualification to next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Board rotation
The AGM also saw rotation in the Board of Directors with Carl Ngamoki- Cameron, Ratu Aisea Vosailagi and Max Olson finishing off.
They have been replaced by Labasabased lawyer Amani Bale who specialises in tax and customs issues, Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union vice-president Biu Colati and Dr Emosi Taloga.
Retaining their positions are chairman Francis Kean,Daniel Whippy, Mere Rakoroi, Dr Berlin Kafoa, Bobby Naimawi and Jay Whyte.
O’Connor said they would wait for the next board meeting to welcome the new board members and farewell party to those who have left.
Deans Trophy
He said there were discussions on the Deans Trophy competition. “The meeting has resolved to support and standby Government’s decision. No school organised competition.
“However, we discussed possibility of arranging matches link to clubs, giving children the opportunity within their individual clubs. “This is to keep them engaged in physical activity but only during the weekends,” O’Connor added. Meanwhile, O’Connor also confirmed the death of former Flying Fijians and Suva prop Alefoso Yalayalatabua.
He played at the 2007 Rugby World Cup where they beat Wales 38-34 in pool play but lost to South Africa in the quarterfinal.