The Fijian Drua has unveiled its major sponsor for the Super Rugby Pacific.
Swire Shipping has boarded the Drua as the naming rights sponsor following the official announcement at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva Wednesday.
The team will now be known as the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua.
The company has been sponsoring Fiji Rugby since 2017.
Drua Interim Chief Executive, Brian Thorburn says to secure a reputable organization as a major sponsor is quite poetic in relation to the Drua and Swire Shipping backgrounds.
“It’s quite fitting and poetic given the synergies between the names and identities of the two organizations who share similar values of quality and excellence. We are delighted to set sail on our maiden voyage with Swire Shipping and welcome them to our vuvale as our biggest sponsor”.
Swire Shipping Regional Manager for the Pacific Islands Alex Pattison says through their sponsorship, they hope to inspire young men and women at grassroots rugby, and to provide them a springboard to enter the professional competition for rugby in the region.
“The Swire Shipping team is extremely pleased and proud to be part of this. The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will make the whole of Fiji proud and we wish them all the best over the coming years”.
Fiji Rugby Union Chief Executive John O’Connor, says we have to be consistent and therefore need to play top-level rugby which now materialiSes with the Drua joining Super Rugby.
He says they have been trying for 20 years to join the world’s toughest and most competitive rugby competition.
It has also been confirmed that FRU General Manager High-Performance Simon Rawalui is also the Drua scrum coach.
34 players have been contracted for the side with another six to be revealed soon.
The Drua will play their seven home games next season at different venues in Australia and there’s even hope that one match can be played in Fiji.
SOURCE: FBC SPORTS
