The 2020 Oceania Rugby Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Wednesday 07 October, 2020 via Zoom amongst Member Unions, Key Delegates and for the very first time – Representatives from the Fédération Polynésienne de Rugby.The Keynote address was delivered by the Director of Development & International Relations for World Rugby, David Carrigy.
Carrigy said that the late Niue Rugby President, Sir Toke and his contributions to the game have been impactful - both in Niue and the region.
“The Honourable Toke was a forceful and strong advocate in rugby for both Niue and the Oceania region and he’s support of rugby is always so hugely appreciated and will be missed,” Carrigy said.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was noted that the changes brought about as a result of the pandemic has seen many changes taking place in the sport, globally.
At a World Rugby level, there has been much collaboration and work done with medical professionals in the game to prepare the return to play guideline which is being distributed internationally to each union.
“Holding the Annual General Meeting remotely shows that we are capable of working differently and reacting and adapting to the challenges that we have from this pandemic,” he added.
“I think we have to look at the positives and I think we have to look at the great innovations that are working differently,” Carrigy said.
Carrigy added that apart from the major rejig of the international test calendar and the hope to get things back on schedule, the financial challenges presented by the COVID-19 is not to be underestimated.
“To prepare for that, we’ve been making immediate cuts because our financial forecast has changed rapidly and has deteriorated significantly in the last several months,” Carrigy said.
One of the key outcomes of the 2020 Annual General Meeting was the inclusion of the Fédération Polynésienne de Rugby into Oceania Rugby as an Associate Member.
Fédération Polynésienne de Rugby Vice President Teiki Dubois said that the Union is grateful to be included as an Associate Memeber of the Oceania Rugby Member Unions as this the first step to establishing the Unions’ aspirations for the country.
“We would like to see the establishment of school rugby, consolidation of rugby schools, professionalization of our federation, a pacified and unified Tahitian rugby. And today, what a great day for us, a comeback among our cousins in the Pacific. While we are only an associate member today, we are extremely proud to sit with everyone at the table” Dubois said.
