Updated: 6:00am – Fiji and Tonga have joined Samoa in calling for a revamp of international rugby’s revenue-sharing agreement.
The Flying Fijians faced Ireland in front of 51,000 fans in Dublin earlier this month while more than 80,000 squeezed into Twickenham at the weekend to watch Manu Samoa take on England.
But the Pacific nations did not receive a cent from gate receipts and under World Rugby rules host unions are under no obligation to share match‑day revenues with visiting sides.
12 months ago the Fiji Rugby Union received a “goodwill payment” of almost $US100,000 from their English counterparts after playing in front of a packed crowd at Twickenham, which helped to pay for a pre‑tour training camp.
England Rugby Football Union agreed to pay Samoa the same amount earlier this month after the SRU revealed its financial state.
Flying Fijians coach John McKee says even a little bit of money would make a big difference for Pacific and other tier two nations.
McKee says he would not expect it to be a massive revenue sharing, in terms of expecting a really big percentage of the gate but 100,000 Euros to them would go a long way in helping them just to make their tour better.
Pacific nations do get to keep any profits from home test matches but ‘Ikale Tahi coach Toutai Kefu said the cost of hosting foreign teams tends to negate any possibility of a windfall.
Georgia and Romania are scheduled to play tests in Fiji and Tonga in next year’s mid‑year test window, while Tonga will also host Fiji at Teufaiva Stadium.
Meanwhile, Manu Samoa will play home and away against a yet‑to‑be‑determined European qualifier for a place in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Source: RNZ/Fiji Village
Featured image: Action from the Flying Fijians vs Ireland match
