As we await the New Zealand 7s to kick off in Wellington in the next few hours, the Fiji Rugby Union has now confirmed that the National 7s side will be known as the Vodafone Fiji 7s team.
It was earlier announced that the team will be known as the Fiji Airways 7s team in the NZ, Australia and Hong Kong 7s tournaments.
However it has been clarified by the FRU that it is the Vodafone Fiji 7s team.
Fiji Airways logo will feature on the 7s jerseys in the NZ, Australia and Hong Kong 7s tournaments.
Fiji Rugby Union Chairman, Filimoni Waqabaca said the total value of the historic 5 year contract is $40 million.
Waqabaca said it is a $8 million a year deal.
When questioned by Fijivillage, Waqabaca confirmed that the cash and kind sponsorship components are still being negotiated.
However he confirmed that the cash component for a year currently stands at $3.6 million.
The cash component includes bonuses for players and cash for player contracts.
The consortiums led by Vodafone include Fiji Airways, CJ Patel Company Limited, Home Finance Company and Fijian Holdings Limited.
Waqabaca said all the naming rights for the different brands will be revealed later.
This means the Vodafone Fiji 7s side will run out with the new look jerseys which features the Vodafone and Fiji Airways logos.
The National 15s side will be known as the Vodafone Flying Fijians.
Home Finance Company will sponsor the National Provincial Championships while the other sponsors for the brands will be revealed soon.
This will be from the Kaji rugby to the Flying Fijians and all local rugby tournaments run by the FRU.
An important clause has been included in the new rugby sponsorship contract where the value of the sponsorship will be reviewed after three years.
Waqabaca said this is based on the fact that the value of Fiji rugby will grow after the 15's Rugby World Cup and the Rio Olympics.
FRU board director responsible for sponsorships, Baljeet Singh said it has been agreed that the value of sponsorship will go upwards during the review of the contract after 3 years.
Acting Fiji Rugby Union CEO, Doctor Berlin Kafoa also revealed that there is no clause giving the sponsors the first right of refusal after the five year contract comes to an end.
Kafoa said this will ensure that the FRU board does not have any restrictions when negotiating sponsorships after the five year term.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
