Sidney Lui, second right, was among the attendees of the Oceania Growth Conference week, taking part in the Tier 1 Rugby and Rugby Rising play-based learning and engaging practical activities, acquiring valuable knowledge to share within their respective unions. Photo: Facebook / Oceania Rugby
Tier 3 rugby nations in Oceania will continue to have their voices heard within Oceania Rugby, following the re-election of Niue's Sidney Lui as a Board member of the regional governing body of the sport.
Lui was re-elected at Oceania Rugby annual general meeting in Nadi last week.
Lui, the secretary-general of the Niue Rugby Union, gets to serve her second consecutive term on the board, reinforcing her role as a key advocate for Tier 3 rugby nations.
Speaking to RNZ Pacific, she said she has consistently championed the inclusion, development, and visibility of emerging rugby nations within Oceania's wider strategic priorities.
"I was the voice of our Tier 3 nations who are underdeveloped in the game of rugby," she said.
"This vote is not just about me, it's about the collective progress of the smaller unions who have so much untapped potential.
"People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it," Lui said following her re-election.
She said he was grateful for the confidence in her leadership, particularly from the Tier 3 unions who have rallied behind her advocacy over the past four years.
During her first term, she was instrumental in pushing for inclusive development pathways, capacity building support, and greater boardroom representation for smaller Pacific Island unions, including Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Niue, Tuvalu and Nauru.
She expressed her gratitude to the Niue Rugby Union for their continued trust and support.
"I humbly acknowledge the President and the Niue Rugby Union for endorsing my candidacy again, and I especially thank the Tier 3 nations for their faith in me," she said.
"I'm proud to carry your voices for another four years."
The Oceania Rugby board make up has Richard Sapias, Steven Lancaster, Dr Jane Wilson, Taylah Johnson, Kieran Keke, Ant Hearne, 'Aisea Aholelei and Lui.
Sydney Lui Photo: Supplied
Meanwhile, Tonga Rugby Union (TRU) chief executive 'Aisea Aholelei was also re-elected.
'Aholelei managed to get ahead of candidates from Fiji and Samoa for a seat on the board.
He said he was grateful for the support he received to serve on the Oceania board again and was looking forward to having inputs into the development plans for Oceania rugby.
"It's good that we have input and insights into what is best implemented for the region as a whole," he said.
"And where nations can look for support in development from stakeholders and sponsors."
'Aholelei has been part of Tonga Rugby's alignment with World Rugby systems and structures in the past five years.
New partnerships
Oceania Rugby President Richard Sapias said the meeting had opened the door to new international partnerships, including a potential French-supported regional competition.
"We're excited by the possibility of launching a new competition that the French are keen to support, potentially hosted in Fiji," Sapias said.
Fiji and France this week discussed more partnership for rugby between the two countries.
Former French international Abdelatif Benazzi, the vice‑president of the French Rugby Federation and chairman of the Six Nations Rugby Championship, was also in Fiji, discussing possible partnerships with Oceania.
The meeting in Nadi also presented the opportunity for World Rugby to go through plans for the region.
Sapias said the importance of regional collaboration and closer ties with World Rugby is critical for Pacific island unions.
He said this would help the unions continue to navigate both opportunities and challenges in player retention, development funding, and local competition structures.
