The 2024 Ba Rugby Tikina Championships have officially been launched in Sorokoba Village, Ba. The tournament is set to begin this Saturday and will feature exciting matchups in the Ba Industries Limited (BIL) men’s division, the Rooster Chicken women’s division, and the U19 division.
The championships will continue until October 19 and serve as a crucial part of Ba Rugby’s elite development pathway for the three Ba representative teams vying for success in 2025. Jeremy Duxbury, an executive with the Ba Rugby Union, confirmed the teams participating in the tournament.
Duxbury announced, “The Rooster Chicken Shield (Women’s) has welcomed two new teams this year – Savatu and Yakete – bringing the total to eight teams. Additionally, all eight U19 teams will debut their new BLK uniforms during this tournament.”
He added that after a highly competitive club competition, the Ba Industries Cup (Men’s) is expected to elevate the standards of rugby once again. Significant improvements from clubs in Naloto, Magodro, and Savatu are anticipated, suggesting that outcomes will not be easily predicted.
Sanjay Badgujar, General Manager of BIL and the main sponsor of the men’s division, expressed pride in their association with Ba Rugby Union. “Ba Rugby has achieved remarkable success against all odds. There were skeptics who believed we could never become a powerhouse, but we proved them wrong. We are proud of this partnership, which will aid us in achieving our goals and becoming champions in Fiji Rugby,” Badgujar stated.