The FIJI Water Flying Fijians is now a tier one team, according to head coach Mick Byrne.
Byrne shared how being a tier one side now was an area where the team’s dynamism could be showcased.
“Obviously, Fiji is tier one now. It’s such a wonderful platform to be at and to show the work that we’ve done over the years, and especially our players,” he said in a press conference on Wednesday.
With the new status part of the Flying Fijians brand, he added how playing tier one teams throughout the years had given them an opportunity to elevate themselves.
“Over the past years, we’ve been given the opportunity to play one or two tier one teams a year, and that’s been a great challenge for us, and it’s been exciting.
“We now need to address the fact that are now tier one, and everything that we’re doing as an organisation and as a group must reflect that, and we’re looking forward to the next window of opportunity to present Fiji rugby to the world.”
It also gives way to being a part of the Nations Cup from next year.
“We are now part of the Nations Cup, which is a combination of those two competitions, so we now need to step up as an organisation and as a group of players.”
Meanwhile, Fiji Rugby Union chairman John Sanday said with this, and a year filled with engagements for both the Flying Fijians and the Vodafone Fijiana XV, it was an exciting time for Fiji rugby.
“We are living through exciting rugby times and the support and prayers of our fans both in Fiji and the diaspora globally is going to be crucial,” Sanday told this newspaper.
In the July Tests, the Flying Fijians face the Wallabies first on Sunday, July 6 in Newcastle, Australia and then take on Scotland on Saturday, July 12 in Suva.
