The shadow national team, competing under the name Viwa at the 38th Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s, has faced disqualification from the tournament. Organizers have stated that the team failed to confirm their participation as Viwa prior to the event. The issue arose when the team, registered as Viwa, was assumed to be the same squad that had previously participated in the series.
Despite winning all three of their pool matches, the team was set to compete against Sesame in the elimination rounds but has now been replaced by the Vuna Brothers. The disqualification has also been communicated to the Fiji Rugby Union by the organizers.
This situation echoes recent disqualification controversies in Fiji rugby, such as the case of Bucalevu Secondary School’s Under-17 team, which was disqualified after allegations of fielding an unregistered player. This incident highlights the importance of compliance with competition rules and proper communication about team registration.
As the Nawaka 7s tournament progresses, it’s a reminder for all teams to ensure their registrations and permissions are in order to avoid similar issues in the future. There’s an opportunity here for teams to learn from these experiences and reinforce adherence to competitive standards, ultimately making the sport stronger and more equitable.
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