The key to any partnership is transparency and the partnership between the Apia Rugby Union (A.R.U.) and Taula Beverages is exactly that.

With the union planning a tour to New Zealand, the beverage company has stepped up as sponsors to give A.R.U. a small boost in funds.

A fundraiser was held at Fun Way Park on Saturday with food and beverages fully sponsored by Taula.

“Basically the A.R.U. is attempting to send a team to New Zealand so this is a fundraising for them,” Taula’s Commercial Manager, Mike Mahendra Mahimkar told Samoa Observer.

“They have sold tickets at $35 and that comes with the food and beer sponsored by us. So you eat and drink for free.”

But according to Mr. Mahimkar, the event was just another way for them to honor the progressive partnership between A.R.U. and Taula.

“If we talk about this sponsorship, Rugby is for a lot of our young generation, a way out,” he said.

“You make it big, you get a contract overseas and you get money. Locally there isn’t much because our economy is so small. The budget of our government might be the budget of the entire English rugby union.

“So we are fighting against those odds. It’s unions like A.R.U. and our local strata under the Samoa Rugby Union who do the hard work.

“They create a platform for our boys to expose their talent and from there they are getting to the next level.

“As Taula stand for pushing Samoa forward, this sponsorship is a perfect match. When approached by this club for sponsorship, we noticed the very positive synergy and that led to the shaking hands in partnership.

“We intend to turn this into a progressive partnership. There always has to be a balance in sponsorship. You can’t go to a corporation and think you will get something for free; nothing is free.

“With sponsorship my staff is working hard to make it happen.”

The sponsorship also goes well with Taula’s goal of boosting Samoa.

“Everything this company does is about driving the local economy,” Mr. Mahimkar said.

“Our Management Director grew up as a farmer and then he got into a Taro export business. Once the Export was hindered due to the yellow leaf plight and the exports went down he was still very progressive, so he became a wholesaler.

“So basically everything we are doing is about contributing.”