During the Special General Meeting (SGM) at the Novotel Suva Lami Bay Convention Centre, Peter Mazey, interim Trustees Chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU), announced that 26 member unions voted in favour of a new structural change. This change includes a newly formed managerial company, the Fiji Rugby Union Limited.
Mazey stated that the FRU’s new commercial format would operate for the next 20 to 30 years. An essential part of the new structure is the department of a charity, which would act as overseer of the whole organization. The Drua and Counter Ruck, entities having 49% of FRU’s ownership, would be included under this charity.
Consultation and assistance came from World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby, with the latter currently undergoing a similar review. Mazey noted that some newly introduced elements, like the nominations committee, are adopted from the New Zealand review.
All Union members unanimously approved the proposed structure, which is entirely union-driven, with union members nominating and voting for each board position. The former system, which included government or Prime Minister’s nominees and a World Rugby- appointed member, has been discarded.
The change also introduces a fair voting system, granting each union member and association one vote each. In the past, certain unions could not participate in voting due to non-compliance with FRU regulations.
The newly ratified constitution is currently with World Rugby, with representatives visiting Fiji in anticipation of their July board meeting. Mazey expressed hope for the FRU’s reinstatement onto the World Rugby council as full members.