SINGAPORE — They are the reigning world rugby sevens series champions, and one of the heavy favourites for the gold medal when the sport makes its debut at August’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

And come April, the mighty Fiji national team will be helping to conduct coaching clinics for the Singapore national sevens team, thanks to a three-year sponsorship deal signed yesterday between Fiji’s national airline, Fiji Airways, and Rugby Singapore, the events and commercial arm of the Singapore Rugby Union (SRU).

Under the cash and in-kind partnership, Fiji Airways — which will embark on its maiden flight to Singapore on April 5 — will be the official airline of the HSBC World Rugby Singapore Sevens 2016 (April 16-17). Over 200 fans from Fiji have already booked direct flights to Singapore, with more eager to come, it was revealed at the sponsorship signing ceremony at the Singapore Sports Hub’s National Stadium yesterday.

Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is also expected to attend.

SRU president Low Teo Ping said the Flying Fijians — two-time defending champions of the World Rugby Sevens Series — have extended their stay in Singapore by an extra two days after the tournament. In addition to organising coaching clinics, there will also be opportunities for Singapore boys to train in Fiji in the future.

“First, there is the commercial side of the sponsorship. It is an opportunity for them (Fiji Airways) to make known that they are now flying between Fiji and Singapore,” said Low.

“On another level, we are now going to work with the Fiji Rugby Union. Because flight facilitates travel, there will be opportunities for our team to go there to train, develop, and for expertise from Fiji to be here to help our team.

“The way the Fijians play rugby sevens — it is quite a different brand altogether ... They throw, pass, flick the ball, (and) they send the ball out quick, faster than others, and that is what I think what rugby sevens is all about. That is something that we should learn, and it is going to be very exciting.”

Local fans will also get a taste of Fiji’s rich rugby culture as about 500 to 1,000 Fijian fans are expected to fly here for the Singapore Sevens. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Fiji’s Attorney-General and Minister for Civil Aviation, has described the number as a “conservative estimate”.

“You have seen the Fijians on TV,” said Low. “They are a pretty colourful lot. They are very boisterous, and they behave very well, and know how to cheer their team on. I think we are looking at another dimension of spectatorship that we have not seen before.”