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 TEIVOVO.COM – COLONIAL CUP
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Friday 2 February 2007
Roosters join 2007 Colonial Cup
The Bligh Roosters have officially joined the Colonial Cup as the sixth franchise team, being made up of players from the Ba, Ra, Tavua and Vatukoula unions.
The Fiji Rugby Union’s premier tournament kicks off on Friday night when defending champions Stallions take on the Highlanders in Suva. On Saturday, the Roosters face the Sharks in Labasa whilst the Knights take on the Crusaders in Nausori.
“This year, the Colonial Cup has six teams,” FRU chief executive Timoci Tavanavanua stated. “That is where we had always wanted to be – it’s the optimum number, it gives us three high-class matches every week and ensures the whole of the country is involved.”
“With the Rugby World Cup being held in September, this year’s Colonial Cup takes on particular importance. It’s the first step towards selection.”
The Colonial Cup kicked off in 2004 with four teams – Crusaders, Highlanders, Knights, and Stallions. A year later, the Sharks joined the competition, bringing the unions from Vanua Levu and Taveuni into play.
“The Colonial Cup has proven to be an absolutely vital tournament for the development of rugby in Fiji at the elite level,” Tavanvanua said. “It provides the opportunity for every aspiring player in Fiji to play semi-professional and to be noticed by the national selectors.”
On Thursday, Colonial signed a new sponsorship contract for a further three years, taking the tournament through to 2009.
Colonial Group Fiji managing director, Laurie Mellsop, said, “We’re delighted to extend our sponsorship of the Colonial Cup for another three years.”
“We believe that our sponsorship has paid big dividends for Fiji Rugby and particularly in exposing our local players to a higher, more professional level of the game.”
“While our sponsorship provides the bulk of the costs for each of the six franchises, allowing players and officials to receive weekly payments, playing uniforms and transportation, we have restructured the sponsorship so that the six franchises can bring in their own subsidiary sponsors to help in their preparations and participation.”
“We all – Colonial, the FRU and the six franchises – want to get to the stage where the franchises are semi-independent and looking after some of their own sponsorship and finances. This is a gradual process and will require the provinces from each franchise to be actively involved,” Mr Mellsop said.
After five weeks of round-robin competition, the Colonial Cup semi-finals will be played, followed by the 2007 Colonial Cup Final in Lautoka on 17 March.
Colonial Cup main page
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