Fijian rugby received a boost on Friday with the confirmation that a team from the island would compete in Australia’s National Rugby Championship (NRC) in 2017. The NRC is the equivalent of the Australia’s Currie Cup and while the standard is below that of Super Rugby‚ it will provide some talented Fijian players the chance to hone their fifteens skills.Fiji are the undisputed kings of sevens and‚ while a handful of their stars play in European leagues‚ the bulk of their talent is not exposed to regular‚ competitive fifteens rugby.The game’s governing body‚ World Rugby‚ has underwritten the costs of Fiji’s participation in the NRC as part of its commitment to growing and sustaining rugby in the Pacific Islands.Fiji were one of the stand-out performers in a tough pool at Rugby World Cup 2015‚ with the set piece and discipline a highlight. Fiji finished the tournament with the best scrum statistics in a pool that contained hosts England‚ eventual finalists Australia and Wales.At the heart of their preparation was Fiji’s share in a £15.3-million (R265-million) investment in Pacific Islands rugby programmes (both direct into unions and indirect into competitions) by World Rugby over the four-year cycle 2012 to 2015.A similar figure is forecast to be invested over the new 2016 to 2019 cycle‚ which will be increased by this exciting new investment underwriting the NRC. World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “The Pacific Islands play a major role in the sport’s heritage and future and World Rugby is committed to working with our friends and colleagues in Fiji‚ Samoa and Tonga to further assist them with the unique challenges that they face.“Participation in the NRC will not only provide a superb performance pathway leading in to Rugby World Cup 2019‚ but it provides locally based players with a strong alternative to playing club rugby overseas should they wish to remain in the Fijian system.“I would like to thank the Australian Rugby Union for embracing this opportunity and enabling Fiji to participate in the National Rugby Championship from next year. I would also like to thank the Fiji Rugby Union for their full commitment to making this happen. It will be a major milestone for the sustainable growth of Fijian rugby.”Of course Fiji’s inclusion could have a negative impact on Fijian rugby if Australia start to handpick talented young players from the islands by recruiting them for Australian Super Rugby franchises and ultimately qualifying them to play for the Wallabies.But World Rugby have indicated they will review Regulation 8 (eligibility) of its constitution‚ which could increase the qualifying period for players from three years to five. – TMG Sport..