FAR from home in the United Kingdom (UK), the FIJI Water Flying Fijians will bank on the support of the Fijian diaspora living there to be the prominent 16th player when they begin their Nations Championship campaign next month.
It’s something the chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union chairman, John Sanday states will be a driving force for the team and the union’s plans to establish a solid base for supporters and fans in the UK.
“I just want the fans, the diaspora, the supporters, the sponsors and everyone to continue their well wishes,’ Sanday told Times Sport in an interview.
“Give our prayers, give our support. This is going to be a long build, we are going to get there.”
He emphasised how in ventures on a scale as such, the journey towards success began with a single step.
“The journey of a thousand miles always starts with the first step, and we are moving in that direction; the focus is very clear.”
The Fijian community in the United Kingdom, which includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, is estimated to be between 5000 and 7000 people.
It includes Fijians who are active-duty or retired members of the British armed forces and others who sought employment opportunities there.
Sanday said the Fijian community there and the European market served as a potential area to establish a solid footprint for a growing Flying Fijian fanbase away from home.
“This is a massive opportunity for our brand’s performance for Fiji Rugby,” he said.
“By taking our home games to the UK, particularly for the first time against Wales and then also Scotland in Murrayfield, and in England, we are bringing the Fiji brand to the global stage and engaging in a massive European diaspora – it’s important.”
“We want the fans in Liverpool, in Cardiff and in Edinburgh to see a winning team that dominates.
“When we deliver excellence on the pitch in the Northern Hemisphere, the Flying Fijians brand becomes a premium global commodity that we can really sell.”
Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Times Sport, Sanday revealed 80 per cent of tickets for the home match against England in Liverpool have been sold.
