Vodafone Fiji has stepped in again to support Fiji Rugby Union’s Flying Fijians team.
The team is on its annual tour of the Northern Hemisphere and will play three Tests against Spain, Wales and Georgia.
The FRU reached out to one of its long and loyal partners Vodafone Fiji and presented the opportunity to support the Flying Fijians’ Northern Tour in light of their existing sponsors taking some strategic steps in its sponsorship commitment to Fiji Rugby because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vodafone Fiji has had a long partnership with FRU through sponsorship dating back to the 1990s when it launched into the Fiji market.
Through Vodafone’s sponsorship, Fiji Rugby has had some of its most glorious and memorable successes along the way including the Pacific Nations Cup and World Rugby Sevens Series victories, Sevens World Cup win and the back-back-back Olympic Games gold medal wins.
Vodafone Fiji continues to play a major role in the development of Rugby in Fiji now focusing its commitment to the secondary schools Rugby Deans Trophy competition and annual Kaji Rugby Trophy for the primary schools.
Vodafone also sponsors the popular local Vanua Championship — a 16-team competition representing the vanua-based competition focusing on the minor unions that make up the FRU grassroots levels.
Rajnesh Prasad, Vodafone Fiji’s chief marketing officer says: “As a brand, we are looking at ways to reach out to our customers and bring our purpose to life in a more contemporary way. Our purpose is to support the much-loved sport that unites Fijians as a country, brings joy to Fijians and help develop future Flying Fijians talents.
“The new partnership with the Flying Fijians is a shoe in relationship with Vodafone’s genuine commitment to the sport that was forged many years ago but now rekindled through the impact of this current Pandemic through a timely helping hand.”
FRU chief executive officer John O’Connor extended his gratitude to Vodafone Fiji for the generous support.
“With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we at Fiji Rugby are extremely grateful to the team at Vodafone Fiji for their loyalty and ongoing trust through sponsoring the Flying Fijians for the Northern Tour.”
“We are delighted that Vodafone has come on board to sponsor the Flying Fijians for the Northern Tour in our time of need which will assist us to meet our relevant commitments for the Northern tour.”
As part of the sponsorship, the Flying Fijians will be known as the Vodafone Flying Fijians during the Northern Tour and will take up the front of the Flying Fijians jersey.
“We still do not have a naming sponsor for the Flying Fijians and the Fijiana. Fiji Airways came to support us during the Test match series against the All Blacks and now we have Vodafone coming to our support. We are thankful and grateful to Vodafone for their support.
“We wish the Vodafone Flying Fijians all the best for the tour which begins this Sunday against Spain in Madrid.”
