Drua boost
SUPER RUGBY CONFIRMS SIDE’S INCLUSION UNTIL 2030
THE Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will feature in the Super Rugby Pacific till at least 2030.
This has been confirmed by New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia following a new jointventure agreement in Sydney yesterday.
“This is great news for the Drua, our fans, sponsors and all stakeholders. It gives us the certainty that we’ll be an integral part of the competition for the foreseeable future,” chief executive officer Mark Evans.
“We look forward to working with New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia to add value to the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition,” Evans added.
NZR Mark Robinson and RA Andy Marinos CEOs each welcomed the new partnership, which will extend the existing joint venture from 2024 to 2030, as a significant moment for professional club rugby in the Pacific region.
Robinson said the agreement represented a unified commitment to the DHL Super Rugby Pacific format.
“This long-term agreement provides certainty for players, coaches, fans, sponsors and broadcast partners and it solidifies our joint commitment to ensuring DHL Super Rugby Pacific is the most entertaining, innovative and fan-focused cross-border club competition in the world.
We charted a new path with the introduction of Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua this year and having all 91 games played in regional time zones, believe we have entered an exciting new era for rugby in the Pacific region,” said Robinson.
Marinos said the agreement was a watershed moment for professional rugby across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
“Today marks the dawn of a new era of Super Rugby within our region. Securing this longterm partnership provides stability and continuity that the competition and Super Rugby clubs need to enable rugby to grow in stature and importance across the region,” Marinos stated.
Meanwhile, the 2023 season kicks off in February and the Fijian Drua play the Moana Pacifika in the opening round on February 25 at the Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand.