The recent Special General Meeting of the Fiji Rugby Union addressed the ongoing challenges related to player registration in Fiji’s rugby scene. Despite being a straightforward issue at its core, it has turned out to be quite complicated in practice.
An instance of this complexity arose when Vatukoula was promoted to the Skipper Cup after successfully appealing against Namosi, who had improperly fielded a player registered with Suva during the promotion play-offs. In Ba’s case, their appeal earlier in 2023 was denied when it was discovered that a player had represented both Vatutavui Village and a club in Vatukoula.
To mitigate such issues moving forward, the Fiji Rugby Union is developing a comprehensive database to ensure that every player is correctly registered. This initiative aims to streamline the process and prevent the extensive time wasted on disputes. As Ba Rugby Union Secretary Gaby Kautoga indicated, these challenges have resulted in numerous protests throughout the club season.
In an effort to improve club operations, the Ba Rugby Union has proposed a plan to register every player, referee, medic, and coach involved in Ba Rugby, issuing each with a photo ID card. This systematic approach not only promises to enhance administration but also offers additional benefits such as insurance and various player privileges. The plan includes visiting each club to ensure proper implementation.
The discussion also touched upon the registration of all 7s teams in Fiji, with a suggestion that they should be recognized as clubs under provincial unions. However, Kautoga emphasized that enforcing registration for 7s teams could be challenging, given the traditional formation of teams within the local context.
Highlighting recent successes, BRU noted that players from Ba participated in the victorious Devo Babas team at the Fiji Bitter Wairiki 7s, as well as individual accomplishments in other competitions.
While there are hurdles to overcome, the FRU’s commitment to improving player registration and organizational standards could lead to more streamlined operations and better experiences for players and clubs alike. This hopeful outlook can inspire confidence among players, clubs, and fans as they strive for a stronger and more unified rugby community in Fiji.
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