Other rugby unions around the world can say they either own their primary rugby ground (i.e Twickenham) or operate in an environment where terms can be negotiated because of the competitive environment between stadia owners.

There is a desperate need to develop two stadia one in the West and one in the East- which can act as respective homes of Fiji Rugby for Test matches, neutral playoffs and East vs West Series etc.

THE Fiji Rugby Union is no doubt in a disadvantaged position as far as hosting a leg of International Rugby Board Sevens World Series because of the lack of an appropriate venue.

There is no venue in Fiji that can accommodate all the teams that play in any of the IRB 7s series, not in terms of accommodation and/or playing but the ground facilities.

Take the National Stadium for instance, how many changing rooms does it have?

Hence, the last FRU Board had been trying very hard to get Fiji Sports Council to hand over the Lawaqa Park to FRU, of course with some sort of arrangement, in order for FRU to upgrade the park and facilities to enable FRU to host international games including the IRB 7s series.

Unfortunately the FSC was not too lenient in the conditions it was offering FRU.

This arrangement, should it come through, can benefit the country also in the wider context, tourism.

Rugby clubs overseas as far as Japan can be lured to come to Fiji for their pre-season training-cum-holidays every year and Lawaqa Park is very conveniently located because of the hotels etc nearby and not too far away from Nadi and Suva for that matter and the weather is not too dry or too wet.

Discussions on this were well under way in 2006 when FRU had discussions with the Government and Fiji Sports Council regarding Lawaqa Park.

According to a board member, the government was supportive but he thinks the problem is with FSC agreeing to the terms FRU was negotiating; the terms FSC was offering was not very helpful.

FRUs plan for Lawaqa Park was to upgrade it to international standard with appropriate training facilities etc and building accommodation etc close by.

FRU has had discussions with the Sigatoka Town Council and the traditional landowners.

There was a company ready to come in if FRU gets the nod, to dominate sponsorship adverts/signboards etc.

The FRU pays a lot of money during preparations for any Fiji National team - hotel, meals etc. This accommodation plan can save a lot of money and can also offer the same facilities to other touring sides (may be not international teams, but other overseas clubs etc).

There are teams in Australia, NZ and even Japan that usually go to some other countries during their preparations for the new season. Having them to come to Fiji on training camps-cum-holiday can be an attractive proposal.

The choice of Lawaqa Park was because of the location; distance from Nadi and the availability of very good hotels in the area.

The upgrade to international standards will not only attract international matches and Super 14s but it can also allow FRU to bid to host one of the IRB 7s tournaments.

Currently FRU cannot bid because it lacks the proper facilities.

So we ask what sort of priority should be given to these ideas.

The main issue here is for the Fiji Sports Council to seriously think of the benefit this FRU proposal can offer for taking Fiji rugby to another level, it can affect the tourist arrivals in Sigatoka area and of course be good for the business houses in the area.

The benefits it can bring to the country should be reason enough for FSC to approve FRUs proposal and not to burden FRU with its (Sports Council) level of debts on Lawaqa Park.

It would be wise also for affiliated unions to start being proactive so as to take upon themselves an initative to have better paddocks to ensure players who eventually will make pathways to national level are accustomed.

At one stage there were plans to upgrade grounds around the country to sizeable standards even for the major unions.

The upgrade for grounds where major unions play should not be the responsibility of the FRU, it should be the responsibility of the major unions which together with other sporting bodies should negotiate with the appropriate city/town councils for the upgrade of grounds.

After all, at the end of the day it is the council that will benefit; ground hire and local businesses from the crowd that follows the team/sport whether it is rugby, soccer etc. Take Lautoka for instance,

Churchill Park is currently the best ground in Fiji. Why? Because the council saw it fit to upgrade it. The result, most FRU international matches are being held in Lautoka. Other councils should learn from Lautoka.

Sorting teams within the council boundary should try and get the local businesses to be part of the game by offering sponsorship. This is where FRU probably can come in; to assist major unions in the art of negotiation with potential sponsors.

However, plans for FRU to have a stadium of its own has been on- going and was part of the Task Force reports on the future of Fiji Rugby tabled in July of 2001.

The report under ground and facility management is still relevant today even through there are hurdles mentioned above and other factors.

The arrangements for Fiji Rugby are not satisfactory and the challenges to the game include.

1. No recent investment in arugby-friendly stadium. Lawaqa Park is a fine venue but is dominated by the running track which makes the dimensons less than IRB standard.

2. No rugby-friendly stadiumstadium (Prince Charles Park, Ratu Cakobau Park) has benefited from significant investment.

The status is therefore as follows:

1-Greater Suva remains one populated area that can sustain the sorts of ticket prices necessary to ensure financial viability of inbound tours.

2-Without investment in new seating the potential yield from Suva ticket revenues (especially grandstand seats) has effectvely remained static since the National Stadium's opening in 1979.

With an absence of choice, it is not surprising that all areas of Fiji Rugby feel an acute sense of frustration.

Stadia not only represent the shopwindow in which Fiji Rugby is displayed but they also represent importnat revenue streams and marketing opportunities which must be brouvght into concert with the oerall requirements of Fiji Rugby.