The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) is taking significant steps towards modernizing the sport in the country by planning the establishment of a high-performance facility at the former Fulton College site in Nakalawaca, Tailevu. This initiative comes after the FRU expressed interest in leasing the land last year and has now successfully reached an agreement with the Trans-Pacific Union of the 7th Day Adventist Church, according to board chairman John Sanday.
As part of the project, the FRU is conducting thorough due diligence to assess the legal status of the land and its economic potential. Sanday mentioned that he has met with the landowners, who have provisionally agreed to partner with the FRU in this endeavor. A study will be conducted to determine the economic viability of the facility, with final approval resting with the FRU Board of Trustees once the findings are presented.
This proposed facility encompasses 100 acres and aims to provide a comprehensive training ground for players at all levels, from school children to elite athletes. Importantly, it will also focus on character development and training for life after rugby, addressing a holistic approach to player development.
The assessment will be carried out by esteemed academics, including Satish Chand, a Professor of Finance at the University of New South Wales, and Dr. Glenn Finau from the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics. In addition to the Nakalawaca site, the FRU is concurrently working on other land projects in Lauwaki Village, Saweni, and a separate 22-acre site in Labasa.
Sanday emphasized that all three projects incorporate an equity portion for the landowning unit alongside potential spin-off contracts to benefit the local community. The FRU aims to submit a completed lease application for both the Fulton College site and the Lauwaki Village land in the near future, marking a pivotal movement towards enhancing Fiji Rugby’s infrastructure and player development.
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