Peter Mazey, the interim Trustees chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU), has announced that 26 member unions have voted for a new organisational structure at the Special General Meeting (SGM) in Suva. This involves creating a new management company, the Fiji Rugby Union Limited.
Mazey explained that a charity would essentially oversee this entire structure, such that its 49% stake in entity Drua and Counter Ruck, as well as its properties, such as Rugby House and the High-Performance Units, would belong to the charity.
The new structure of the FRU is expected to be operational for the next two to three decades. According to Mazey, the process has been guided by the assistance of World Rugby through funded consultation.
The chairman also drew attention to the fact that the FRU has received support from New Zealand Rugby, which is currently undergoing a similar review. Elements of this review will be incorporated into the new FRU structure.
The next annual general meeting (AGM) will occur in 45 days, which is when the new board of directors and chairman will be elected. Notably, the membership of the new board will be union-based, as the unions will nominate and vote for their preferred candidates. This setup marks a departure from past practices, wherein a government or Prime Minister’s nominee and a World Rugby appointment were standard.
Mazey stated that all union members have unanimously agreed to this proposed structure. The first resolution under it was to put in place a new voting system that gives each union member and association equal voting rights.
Finally, Mazey confirmed that the drafted constitution has been passed in the SGM. For evaluation and other discussions relating to this new structure, representatives from World Rugby will visit Fiji. A board meeting will take place in July, during which the FRU hopes for reconsideration to full membership on the World Rugby council.