World Rugby’s funding support for the Fijian Drua will conclude in June 2026, and the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua remains well positioned to continue operating successfully and sustainably.
Drua says they have spent the past five years building a strong foundation, and preparations for the end of this funding have been underway for some time.
They say that as a responsible organisation, the Fijian Drua has proactively planned for this transition.
Drua says the club is firmly established with a strong brand, a loyal fan base, and one of the strongest commercial partnership portfolios in the competition.
The club says that in a relatively short period, the Drua has grown beyond rugby to become a significant contributor to Fiji’s economy through sports tourism and broader economic activity.
The Drua say they also continue to benefit from valuable support through the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports programme.
The club stresses that, like any successful business, they regularly review and adjust their cost base to ensure long-term sustainability.
They say as one source of revenue concludes, they are actively developing and growing alternative revenue streams, including paid streaming services and other commercial opportunities.
The Drua says they will also see considerable potential in expanding the Drua brand internationally and strengthening engagement with the Fijian diaspora.
They note that these initiatives are essential to maintaining our competitiveness in one of the toughest rugby competitions in the world.
The McDonald’s Fiji Drua Women continue to perform strongly with consistent finals appearances, and ongoing investment in their pathways will be equally important to sustaining that success.
They say they are also continuing discussions with the Government and tourism stakeholders because the Fijian Drua is more than a rugby club—it is a national asset.
The club contributes more than $108 million annually to Fiji’s economy, with its sports tourism impact continuing to grow.
They say in February 2027 alone, more than 200 rugby players and staff from Australia and Canada are expected to travel to Fiji to play against Junior, Development and Women’s teams, further demonstrating the club’s growing value to the nation.
