INVESTING IN FIJIAN DRUA AN OPTION FOR KANALOA
KANALOA STILL PURSUING SUPER RUGBY LICENCE AFTER BEING TURNED DOWN If they can’t secure a licence, Tracy Atiga says Kanaloa have a contingency plan to divert their investors towards the Fijian Drua.
After being turned down for a Super Rugby licence, the Chief Executive of Kanaloa Pasifika says they stand ready to divert investment funds into the Fijian Drua, whose bid was successful.
However Tracy Atiga says she is aware that both the Drua and the other successful bidders, Moana Pasifika, are in a race against time to raise the necessary funds ahead of a June 30th deadline, and as a result Kanaloa have not given up hope of securing a Super Rugby licence for themselves.
“New Zealand Rugby know that the two organisations they’ve given conditional licenses to have no investment. They found money from World Rugby and Sky TV, but those are the two options that we put forward to New Zealand Rugby ourselves,” Atiga has told Pacific Beat.
“So I don’t think it’s the end for Kanaloa, we still have till June to see whether or not Moana Pasifika and the Drua are actually able to front up with the $10 million minimum per annum, something that we were able to do.” Tracy Atiga says Kanaloa is a $33 million company that’s ready to go, but she claims it’s a model that doesn’t suit New Zealand Rugby’s purpose.
“New Zealand Rugby tried very hard for two months to pressure Kanaloa to merge with Moana Pasifika. We said absolutely not, we’re a standalone entity.”
Atiga has posted recordings of New Zealand Rugby’s Chairman, Brett Impey, on line, in which he addresses the question of awarding a licence to Kanaloa Pasifika.
He describes the idea as a lose-lose for the union, claiming it would undermine support from Pacific community leaders like former All-Black, Sir Bryan Williams, and risk severing ties with New Zealand’s Labour government.
“We need Pacific reset money, we want the support of government in a couple of ways for this project,” Impey says.
But Kanaloa’s CEO is also questioning Moana’s commitment to Pasifika players, because of the group’s close connections with both New Zealand Rugby and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association.
If they can’t secure a licence, Tracy Atiga says Kanaloa have a contingency plan to divert their investors towards the Fijian Drua.
“The reason being that is a standalone entity, much similar to what Kanaloa had proposed….if it comes down to money we’re here for them… as far as I’m concerned, it’s set up the right way, separate and independent, she said.