A judge in Fiji yesterday kicked to touch an application by Digicel aimed at preventing the loss of its sponsorship of the Pacific nation's rugby team to Vodafone.

Digicel, owned by Denis O’Brien, has sponsored the team since 2006 and believes it has a pre-emption clause in its contract that gives it the right to renew it, upon expiry, if it matches the highest offer on the table.

The cash-strapped Fijian Rugby Union recently signed a 40 million Fijian dollars (€15m) deal with Vodafone. Digicel tried to injunct the deal until it gets a proper court hearing, but failed.

It will get another chance to reverse the deal at a fresh injunction hearing next Thursday.