Sports administration can often seem tedious, yet it plays a vital role in ensuring competitions run smoothly. The Ba Rugby Union has experienced significant growth over the past 18 months, leading to increased expectations for proper conduct and transparency in areas such as discipline, match officiating, and player eligibility.
“We still have a lot to learn,” acknowledged BRU Secretary Gaby Kautoga. “Every week brings new challenges, and we appreciate our club and tikina members for their patience and contributions as we expand our operations.”
Yakete Nakula faced challenges in fielding a women’s team during the 2023 Rooster Chicken Shield, raising concerns when they were absent from Round 1 of the 2024 tournament last month. However, in Round 2, the Yakete women took to the field in formation, shared a prayer, and demonstrated their dedication with a convincing 24-0 victory against Qailyalatina Bure.
For Round 3, the team manager not only completed the individual player registrations linking them to Ba, but also presented a release letter from Yasawa Rugby Union for 12 players who previously played there. “All of this was accomplished within a couple of days after we submitted the registration forms,” Kautoga noted. “Most of these players are from Ba but attend school in Lautoka.”
In an impressive performance, Yakete triumphed over Magodro with a 34-0 score, securing their spot in today’s Rooster Chicken Shield semi-finals against Nailaga. “A major goal for 2025 is for the Ba Women to gain promotion to the ANZ Marama Championship, and this victory will significantly boost the team,” Kautoga added.
Another highlight was the administrative efficiency shown by the Veiyasana Under 19s team. “After receiving the registration forms on Thursday, the Veiyasana Junior side completed them in time for Saturday’s game and included the birth certificates,” Kautoga reported.
The Ba Tikina Championships not only help identify promising players for the three Ba representative teams but also serve as a development platform for coaches and officials. “We can spot potential managers and assistant coaches for Ba teams here, with new faces proving their capabilities,” Kautoga remarked.
In the other Rooster Chicken Shield semi-final, the defending champions, Veiyasana Cagilaba, will face Bulu. Meanwhile, a last-minute penalty secured a 12-10 victory for the Veiyasana men’s team against Qaliyalatina, allowing both teams to advance to the Cup semi-finals.
All three Nailaga Tiliva Bukuya teams topped their pools, while the Naloto Under 19s defeated Bulu 22-14, progressing to the Allied Buses Trophy semi-finals. All 24 teams will compete today, with entry priced at $4 for adults and $2 for youths.