Updated: 10:20pm – The Fiji Rugby Union has totally rejected claims made by former Fiji 7s coach, Ben Ryan about the 2019/2020 World 7s Series tournament bid.
Ben Ryan has said on his official Facebook page that he is not prepared to back Fiji’s bid to host the World Rugby 7s tournament because he has claimed that the costs are hugely excessive and it is a massive waste of money.
He has also claimed that overseas consultants asked for a budget of $1 million just to put together the bid.
Ryan also raised the question on why the Fiji Rugby Union is wasting money with radio advertising etc.
He asks why this has been allowed and that it is wastefulness of the highest degree.
The Fiji Rugby Union has today stated that the figures quoted by Ben Ryan in terms of the cost of the bid have been greatly exaggerated and are not factual.
The FRU says in addition to this, all costs associated with the promotion of the 7s bid on local television and radio stations have been met by those stations at no cost to the FRU in support of Fiji’s bid.
Fijivillage can also confirm that the CFL stations, FM96, Legend FM, Viti FM, Navtarang and Radio Sargam, and website, fijivillage.com are supporting the campaign with ads and it is being done free of charge to support the national bid to host the World Rugby 7s tournament in Fiji.
FBC and Fiji Television have also confirmed that they are putting up the ads without taking any money.
Meanwhile FRU has thanked all the organizations and likewise all Fijians who have signed up their support for the bid and they reassure everyone of the FRU’s commitment to submit a credible and strong bid, to which they urge all Fijians to continue to support the bid since hosting such a global event will not only benefit rugby but all Fijians and more importantly the country.
FRU also notes Ben Ryan’s opinion on social media and the Rugby Union was fully aware of his views since FRU had sought his support for the bid in August 2017 which he declined prior to the FRU making the decision to proceed on with the bid.
FRU says this is our first attempt to bid to host a World Rugby 7s Series Leg in the Home of 7s Rugby and FRU is committed to the bid and they will do all that they can to bring home a leg of the World Sevens Series and prove to the world that we can run such a global event successfully.
-Fiji Village
