Sports administration work, while sometimes dull, is vital for the seamless operation of competitions.
Ba Rugby has experienced significant growth in the past 18 months, bringing heightened expectations for transparency in disciplines like match officiating and player eligibility.
“We still have a lot to learn,” acknowledged BRU Secretary Gaby Kautoga. “Every week seems to present new challenges that we must address, and we are grateful to our club and tikina members for their patience, input, and ideas as we broaden our operations.”
Yakete Nakula faced challenges in fielding a women’s team for the 2023 Rooster Chicken Shield, and there were concerns when they were absent in Round 1 of the 2024 tournament. However, in Round 2, the Yakete ladies took the field with confidence, starting with a prayer and achieving a solid 24-0 victory against Qailyalatina Bure.
For Round 3, the team manager submitted player registrations that linked the athletes to Ba, along with a release letter from the Yasawa Rugby Union for 12 players who had previously played there. “This all transpired within a few days after we submitted the registration forms,” Kautoga noted. “Most of these players are from Ba, but they attend school in Lautoka.”
Yakete then impressively defeated Magodro 34-0, earning a place in today’s Rooster Chicken Shield semi-finals against Nailaga. “One of our major goals for 2025 is for the Ba Women to secure promotion to the ANZ Marama Championship, and this will provide a significant boost for the team,” Kautoga stated.
Another highlight from last week was the organizational efficiency of the Veiyasana Under 19s team. “Despite receiving their registration forms on Thursday, the Veiyasana Junior side completed all paperwork in time for Saturday’s match and even attached birth certificates,” Kautoga said.
“The Ba Tikina Championships not only aim to identify prospective players for the three Ba representative teams but also serve as a pathway for coaches and officials. I believe we can identify managers and assistant coaches for the Ba teams here, with some emerging talents showcasing their competence.”
In another semi-final of the Rooster Chicken Shield, defending champions Veiyasana Cagilaba will face Bulu.
In the Ba Industries Cup, a last-minute penalty goals led the Veiyasana men’s team to a 12-10 victory over 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 triumphed over Bulu 22-14 to progress to the Allied Buses Trophy semi-finals.
All 24 teams will compete today, with entrance fees set at $4 for adults and $2 for youths.