Word of the Fiji International is
spreading with sports celebrities choosing to holiday in Fiji during the
tournament period.

With American Brandt Snedeker
announcing his participation in the 2016 tournament and confirmation that
Fiji’s most successful athlete Vijay Singh will return for the third year,
momentum around the Fiji International is growing.

Sports fans at the Fiji International
will be entertained by the world class golfers competing in the tournament but
should also keep their eyes peeled for two world-class athletes from a
different sport.

Former Australian Wallabies
captain George Gregan and Fiji’s own Lote Tuqiri, a dual-code rugby player,
have signed on as ambassadors for the 2016 Fiji International.

Both keen golfers, Gregan and
Tuqiri will attend the Fiji International to be played at Natadola Bay
Championship Golf Course from 6-9 October.

"The involvement of these two well-renowned
rugby legends will definitely draw more interests to our shores. Rugby is the
most admired sport in Fiji and we hope that through our brand ambassadors, our
rugby fans in Fiji will also become golf fans and help further develop the
sport locally." said Hon Faiyaz Koya, Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism.

Gregan is Australia’s highest
ever internationally capped rugby union player and since his retirement from
the game he has spent a lot of time on the golf course.

2016 will be Gregan’s first trip
to the Fiji International but he has already experienced life at an ISPS HANDA
PGA Tour of Australasia golf tournament after playing in the New Zealand Open
pro-am.

"Since watching the inaugural
Fiji International on television, attending the tournament has been on my
golfing bucket list," said Gregan.

"I am really looking forward to
combining a holiday with attending a world-class golf tournament."

Fijian-Australian Tuqiri has
represented Australia in both rugby league and rugby union. He also represented
Fiji in the 2000 World Cup where he was the team’s top try and goal scorer for
the tournament.

Tuqiri is excited to be heading
home to watch his country’s biggest sporting event.

"I love golf and I love Fiji so
to be able to combine them both is perfect," said Tuqiri, who heard about the
tournament from his cousin, Professional golfer Rika Batibasaga.

"My cousin, Rika, is actually a
Tour Pro and played in the inaugural Fiji International. He has told me great
things about the tournament, he isn’t playing this year but I can’t wait to
check it out myself."

Attracting Gregan and Tuqiri as
Ambassadors for the Fiji International is part of the strategic direction to
expose not only the tournament but Fiji to the world.

"George and Lote are world
renowned athletes who each have a huge fan following. Their attendance at the
Fiji International will place the tournament in front of the eyes of that
following," said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia which oversees the
ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

"The Fiji International will
continue to enhance its reputation as a must attend international sporting
event through the positive endorsement of influential people like George and
Lote."

"We have already seen this from
the player’s side. Matt Kuchar won the Fiji International in 2015 and through
his positive endorsement World Number 22 Brandt Snedeker has decided to play
this year."

Before Gregan and Tuqiri enjoy
watching the European Tour and ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia players in
action, they will take on Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course themselves in
the pro-am.

They will also show off the
skills that earned their international accolades as talented athletes as they
put on a rugby clinic.

The Fiji International will be
played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from 6-9
October. Tickets are available at fijiinternational.com.