The Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, has ordered the Fiji Secondary School Rugby Union (FSSRU) to allow the Bucalevu Secondary School Under-17 team to compete in the Vodafone Deans national quarter-finals this weekend. Bucalevu had previously been disqualified after Nabua Secondary School filed a formal complaint within 48 hours following their playoff loss to Bucalevu on July 27 at Subrail Park, Labasa.
Bucalevu won their game against Nabua with a narrow score of 21-20, securing their place in the quarter-finals. However, the FSSRU disqualified them due to claims that a player who participated in the U16 team also played for the U17 team in the same season.
With Bucalevu’s disqualification, Nabua is scheduled to face Ratu Kadavulevu School at 11 am this Saturday. The defending U17 champion, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School, has been eliminated this year after failing to qualify.
According to the FSSRU Terms of Participation, players are not allowed to represent multiple teams from the same school in the Vodafone FSSRU Super Deans Championship within a single season. FSSRU officials are tasked with verifying player information submitted at the beginning of the season, which includes players’ details and passport photos for authenticity checks.
Minister Radrodro reaffirmed his directive, asserting that Bucalevu’s victory was legitimate and they rightfully deserve to take part in the competition. He instructed the Permanent Secretary to communicate with FSSRU executives to comply with the outcome of the match.
Efforts to reach FSSRU president Jone Kanalagi for a statement yielded no information, as he was attending a meeting with the Permanent Secretary and later did not respond. The Permanent Secretary, Selina Kuruleca, also declined to comment when approached for a statement.