The Fiji Bitter Mataso 7s tournament is set to introduce an innovative competition format that will see top teams face off against emerging squads from grassroots levels. This exciting approach will be featured in the third leg of the Fiji Bitter 7s series.
James Vunituraga, the tournament director, announced this new structure during the tournament’s launch at Paradise Beverages Fiji Limited’s headquarters in Suva earlier this week. The format divides teams into two categories: the elite and the grassroots level. This division will allow teams to compete in four pools, with winners from each pool moving forward to the elimination rounds. Ultimately, the leading teams from both categories will have the opportunity to progress to the later stages of the competition.
Vunituraga emphasized that this format aims to provide grassroots teams a valuable chance to not only compete among themselves but also to measure their skills against established teams. “It’s about allowing grassroots teams to excel and eventually face elite teams,” he stated, adding that opportunities will exist not just for the main cup but also for the bowl and shield finals.
Alfaio Tekavei, the sponsorship and events specialist for Fiji Bitter, echoed Vunituraga’s sentiments, projecting that the new format would present an engaging experience, particularly benefiting grassroots teams.
The Mataso 7s tournament is slated to take place from November 15-17 at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
This new format presents a promising future for rugby in Fiji by offering aspiring players a platform to showcase their talent, enhancing competition, and potentially uncovering future stars of the sport.
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