Rugby - Fiji Rugby Union unaware of Ryan’s Super Rugby plan

The Fiji Rugby Union says it has no knowledge of sponsorship negotiations being conducted by former national sevens coach Ben Ryan aimed at entering a Pacific team in the Super Rugby competition. Ryan told Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper he has secured promises of more than $35 million to fund the project which he hopes will end the player drain from the Pacific Islands. However FRU chief executive John O’Connor told the Fiji Village news website Wednesday that the union is not party to the negotiations and Ryan is not acting on the FRU’s behalf. Ryan’s plan includes the construction of a stadium at Denarau near the major city of Nadi. O’Connor said the FRU has its own plans for a stadium which it has already flagged with World Rugby.