Sevens Series Official Bidding Process Begins
The Fiji Rugby Union has today announced that the official tender process for a HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series leg has started. This was confirmed by FRU CEO, Mr John O’Connor who received the tender documents from World Rugby late last year.
The FRU has put together a Fiji for 7s task force team, led by FRU General Manager Commercial, Brian Thorburn who will be assisted by Greg Peters of Forefront Sports and Media to ensure that we prepare a strong and comprehensive bid which meets and complies with all the bid requirements set by World Rugby.
FRU CEO, John O’Connor said that there are very strict criteria guidelines outlined in the tender documents for different categories which has to be met and that it is very important that the FRU ensures that we tick all these criteria boxes as set out by World Rugby.
“The Fiji for 7s task team has a very huge and important task ahead of them in order to make our bid successful. Both Brian and Greg have been working feverishly day and night with the team since we made the announcement to ensure that each and every box in the different categories are ticked and that we are fully compliant to the bid requirement to be able to win the bid to host a leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.”
“We have a lot of hard work ahead of us prior to the closing of the bid period to submit a credible and winning bid that warrants serious consideration. One of the main criteria in the bid document is the detailed commercial model which is very important to World Rugby because it will provide assurance of the sustainability of hosting a leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series for the next 4 years. We believe we are strong in the Rugby criteria but there is a lot of work we need to do to tick the player welfare and related categories which means that we would need to look at detailed requirements for team services which includes the hosting of so many teams and support staff and the hosting of so many spectators from Fiji and around the world.”
“There is a need for us to prove to World Rugby that we can get the spectator numbers, how we can engage the tournament globally and how we can engage it with the main tournament series sponsors. So these are some of the things the Fiji for 7s task team is working on to prove that we can host a world class tournament.”
But O’Connor highlighted that the FRU and our Fiji for 7s task team cannot do this alone and we will need all Fijians to get behind our bid and support us in order to make this long-time DREAM become a reality.
“Should we be successful, this tournament will not only benefit the FRU but all Fijians and Fiji as a nation.”
Mr O’Connor reiterated the call of the President of the Fiji Rugby Union, Ratu Voreqe Bainimarama at the Bid official announcement last year and asked Fijians of all ages, from all walks of life to sign up and support FRU’s bid.
“Our men’s Fiji team has been renowned as one of the finest exponents of running 7s rugby for decades, and we have been a dominant force on the international stage,” Mr Bainimarama said at the time.
“We want World Rugby to see the passion of our people, the support of our country and the unique Fijian way. We believe that we can mount a credible and professional bid which addresses the needs of modern tournaments. We have the facilities, we have the hotels, we have the infrastructure, we have the air connections, we have the communications infrastructure and we are committed to using the next two years to make any infrastructure improvements that we need to make. We are announcing this to send the message that Fiji will do what is necessary to present a compelling bid.”
“We are asking our Fijian people to turn up and show their support. We have the players and we have the will. We have a government who understands the benefits of showcasing our country to an international audience and attracting tourism and investment. We have a corporate sector who are marketing themselves to a global audience but most importantly we have people who are passionate for rugby and more importantly for the Sevens game and for our Sevens Teams.”
“We want to show World Rugby the depth of our national commitment, the passion of our people and our capacity to deliver. I encourage all Fijians to register at Fijifor7s.com and help us bring the HSBC tournament to Fiji.”
“Sevens is in our DNA. It is part of our being and the fabric of our society” O’Connor added.
World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Waisale Serevi has also shown his support for Fiji’s bid.
“I support it 200 percent I am with Fiji Rugby Union, the country and the people of Fiji, we want to bid to get one of the HSBC stops in Fiji,” said Serevi.
“What we have done to 7’s rugby all over the world in these years? I totally support and agree that Fiji should host a tournament.”
“I am with the idea and believe that one day we will get the chance to host one tournament.”
The Fiji Rugby Union has offered a trip for two to the Hong Kong 7s which includes return flights, 4 nights accommodation and a three day entry pass to the 7s tournament. All those that have registered and or will register their support will go into a draw for this valuable prize.
For those wanting to show their support, they can register their much needed support by going to Fijifor7s.com and completing the registration details.
The FRU will lodge their tender by February 28th, with a decision from World Rugby to be expected by June 28th, 2018.
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