The Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, has directed the Fiji Secondary School Rugby Union (FSSRU) to reinstate the Bucalevu Secondary School Under-17 team into the Vodafone Deans national quarter-finals scheduled for this weekend.
Bucalevu Secondary School, located in Taveuni, was disqualified after Nabua Secondary School lodged an official complaint with the FSSRU within 48 hours of losing to Bucalevu in their playoff match at Subrail Park in Labasa on July 27. In that match, Bucalevu narrowly defeated Nabua Secondary School 21-20, securing a place in the upcoming quarter-finals.
Following the complaint, the FSSRU disqualified Bucalevu due to allegations that a player who participated in the U16 team also played in the victorious U17 team. As a result, Nabua is set to compete against Ratu Kadavulevu School at 11 a.m. this Saturday.
Defending champions Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School did not qualify this year. According to section 10 of the FSSRU Terms of Participation, a player is not permitted to represent two different teams from the same school in the Vodafone FSSRU Super Deans Championship within a single season.
All team managers are responsible for submitting players’ rosters, which FSSRU officials verify against student records before games to identify any discrepancies. Players’ details, along with passport photos, are submitted at the beginning of the season for verification.
Minister Radrodro affirmed his decision, asserting that Bucalevu legitimately won their match and should be allowed to continue in the competition. He instructed the Permanent Secretary to notify the FSSRU executives that the results of the game must be honored.
Contacted for a comment, FSSRU president Jone Kanalagi stated he was in a meeting with the Permanent Secretary and would provide further details later. However, attempts to reach him afterward were unsuccessful, and Permanent Secretary Selina Kuruleca declined to comment.