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\nThe new funding project is a joint effort by the three island unions, their respective governments and the Australian government.
\nPhoto: Facebook \/ Manusina XV\n<\/p>\n
Rugby Australia has confirmed that a new funding agreement currently being discussed with Fiji, Samoa and Tonga will enable a new regional competition structure for both men’s and women’s rugby.<\/p>\n
The funding package is reported to be around AU$150 million.<\/p>\n
However, the funding will not be given to the three respective unions but will be used to support a broader regional rugby development framework.<\/p>\n
The intent is for the funding to underpin a regional development ecosystem rather than a simple allocation of funds to each union, Rugby Australia said.<\/p>\n
The new funding project is a joint effort by the three island unions, their respective governments and the Australian government.<\/p>\n
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\nThe fund will also support sevens rugby tournaments across the region.
\nPhoto: World Rugby\n<\/p>\n
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong shared the initiative in Apia two weeks ago when he met with Samoa’s Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Pol\u0101ta’ivao Schmidt, and stated the initiative was still very much at the initial negotiation stage, and the structure had not yet been finalised.<\/p>\n
The fund will also support age-grade competitions, high-performance development pathways, including academies, and support for sevens rugby tournaments across the region.<\/p>\n
The new competrition structure is reported to include having island teams in the domestic Rugby Australia Super Rugby competition, which features the four Australian franchise clubs.<\/p>\n
While Fiji and Tonga have signed the new funding proposal, Samoa is yet to do that.<\/p>\n