Ratu Navula College’s under-19 rugby team is planning to voice their concerns to the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union after their narrow 10-13 loss to Lami High School in the Vodafone Super Deans semi-final held at Bidesi Ground in Suva yesterday.
Following the match, while Lami celebrated their victory, Ratu Navula engaged in a lengthy team discussion to determine their next steps. Head coach Viliame Bati revealed that a meeting was held on Friday involving representatives from Ratu Navula, Lami High, and the FSSRU to discuss certain issues regarding eligibility.
Bati stated, “During our dialogue, we raised our concerns about players who have been pointed out throughout the week, specifically non-students from the Dominion Brothers and FNU who were part of the Lami team. We aimed to prevent them from playing yesterday, but upon consulting the FSSRU, they said any complaint would need to be addressed after the match.”
Bati claimed their grievances were not adequately resolved. “We had reached an agreement for the four boys not to play, but we were surprised when the president said all four would indeed play,” he added. “Their names were recorded by the secretary on his laptop. These four boys are not attending school and are affiliated with the Dominion Brothers team, yet they were able to participate in the match.”
Both the coach and parents of the players expressed dissatisfaction with what they viewed as an unfair playing field. “It’s crucial for them to understand the rigorous season we’ve endured and the dedication these boys have shown in their training, as this represents their future. We want them to compete because that’s where they can be scouted,” said Bati.
The coach also reflected on the intense nature of the game, stating, “That was the toughest game we’ve faced. I felt for my boys; we didn’t have a fair chance in today’s contest.”
Lami High School refrained from making any comments on the situation and redirected all inquiries to the FSSRU. Ratu Kadavulevu School had previously raised similar concerns after the quarter-finals last weekend. According to a reliable source, a hearing on Wednesday found no substantial evidence to back up those claims, confirming that the questioned players were registered students of Lami High School.