Pacific rugby countries are confident of meeting the criteria to take up seats on the World Rugby Council.
The Council has approved wide-ranging reform of its governance structures, which include giving tier two nations such as Fiji, Samoa and Tonga a seat each at the decision-making table for the first time.
To be eligible for Council membership unions must be in good standing with World Rugby and be able to demonstrate good governance practice, including a fully applied constitution, bylaws and regulations and five years of unqualified audited accounts and AGM minutes.
All three Pacific unions have had their issues with World Rugby in recent years.
The Samoa Rugby Union committed to implementing governance, management and financial reforms following talks with World Rugby officials in December and February.
Samoa during the Rugby World Cup. Photo: AFP
The world governing body suspended direct funding to Fiji Rugby for much of 2014, citing its failure to implement key financial reporting, administration and governance reforms.
Leone Nakarawa makes a run against Wales at RWC 2015. Photo: Photosport
Meanwhile the Tonga Rugby Union has only been in existence since 2013, following the expiration of a two-year ordinance, imposed by the Tonga government, to address concerns from the then IRB over how the former union was being run.
Tonga perform the Sipi Tau at the Rugby World Cup. Photo: AFP
The Chair and President of the Tongan Union, Epeli Taione, is confident there will be no late hiccups for what he calls "the biggest thing to happen to Pacific rugby ever".
"Without a shadow of a doubt we meet those [criteria]. It comes with the territory. We know there will be a probationary period of up to 18 months to show that but I'm quite confident the three islands will get through that. They're a bit worried and just trying to protect their investment but I don't see any problem with that. I'm quite confident that all three islands could meet all of those [conditions]".
The expanded World Rugby Council will come into force in May 2016.
Tonga Rugby Chair Epeli Taione at a Rugby World Cup 2015 event. Photo: Photosport
