By LINDSAY KNIGHT
The Counties-Manukau and Fiji rugby unions have entered into a three-year partnership which Counties chief executive Nick Sheppard believes may be a first in world rugby.
"We think it's a first time such an agreement may have existed between a province and an overseas national union," Sheppard said
yesterday.
The agreement, reached after discussions between Sheppard and Fiji national coach Wayne Pivac, is aimed at being mutually beneficial for each organisation, who shared similar problems.
Fiji is in the second tier of the international nations trying hard to compete with those in the top tier. Sheppard said Counties was now a second-tier union as far as the National Provincial Championship was concerned.
"And with the 2006 NPC review looming, like Fiji we are facing further challenges."
The Fiji-Counties agreement will involve an interchange of players and teams, academy opportunities and the education of coaches.
Some of the benefits, for Counties at least, may be evident when the NPC starts next month.
Included in the Counties-Manukau side as it bids to win the second division title are likely to be several Fiji internationals, one of whom will be forward Api Naevo, who has played previously for Counties and in the Super 12 for the Chiefs.
Sheppard said Counties had long had a happy relationship with Fijian players.
Naevo and prolific scoring wings such as Luke Erenavula, Joeli Vidiri and Sitiveni Sivivatu have all figured prominently in Counties sides.
"Fijian people like living in Pukekohe and there is a good infrastructure to make them feel at home here."
