FIJI’S New High Commissioner to New Zealand Filimoni Waqabaca will look at opening a pathway to New Zealand for Fijian rugby players.

Fully aware of the remittances that are sent back home from Fijian rugby players overseas, Mr Waqabaca said there was a huge market for this in New Zealand.

“We have sports diplomacy where we also have sports personalities who are sending back remittances to the country and NZ being of close proximity to Fiji, there is a big market out there for our rugby players, they can find contracts in NZ,” said Mr Waqabaca said.

He believed if more Fijians broke into the NZ market like they do in Europe it would augur well for the country in terms of foreign remittances.

Apart from sports diplomacy, the former Fiji Rugby Union board chairman said he would also look at the continuity of the recognised seasonal employer work scheme.

He said it was important to ensure the trust established by the seasonal workers program was not breached.

Mr Waqabaca said he also had plans to work with a other overseas missions in Wellington in identifying opportunities for Fiji.