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Brive to build academy in Fiji
ESPN Staff
July 16, 2014
Fiji's Sisa Koyamaibole on the charge, Italy v Fiji, Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena, Italy, November 27, 2010
Sisi Koyamaibole supports Brive's new academy in Fiji © PA Photos
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Brive No.8 Sisaro Koyamaibole is adamant the team's new academy in Fiji is not being brought in with the intention of poaching the country's top talent.

Reports in the Fiji Times on Wednesday claim the academy will open in February in Nadi after Brive's rugby director Nicolas Godignon was given permission by the government to build the facility. For Godignon, the purpose of the facility is to help develop the country's talent.

"The academy will focus on training and guiding the players to become professional players so that they can improve their playing career," Godignon told the Fiji Times.

The format of the academy will see 25 players selected who will train and also learn French. Brive already have a strong Fijian contingent in their team with five players in their squad - Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Benito Masilevu, Venione Voretamaya, Malakai Radikadike and Sisaro Koyamaibole - and Koyamaibole is adamant the purpose of the new academy is not to tempt Fiji's youngsters abroad.

Koyamaibole said: "We are not here to poach players but we are thinking of their future and if they go through the programme, they can also do further studies in France and follow in the footsteps of some well-known players."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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