The Fiji Secondary School Rugby Union (FSSRU) is set to issue an official apology to the Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS) under-18 team and its management. This follows a significant error that occurred during the announcement of the results for the Vodafone Super Deans quarter-final match against Cuvu College.
On Saturday, RKS was incorrectly declared the winner, leading to celebrations, until confusion arose when Cuvu College’s officials celebrated their own victory after it was revealed that the scorekeepers had made a mistake in reporting the final scores. A penalty try awarded to Cuvu was noted as five points instead of the correct value of seven points.
FSSRU vice-president Savenaca Muamua confirmed, “There will be an apology to the RKS management about what has happened.” Reports indicated that RKS may have kicked the ball out after being told by an official they were leading the game. Muamua stated, “If we find that to be true, then that official will no longer take part in the Deans competition.”
A thorough investigation is being conducted to address this incident, which Muamua described as unprecedented. He emphasized that officials must operate under the FSSRU’s authority and not represent their individual schools during games. “We have informed the officials that when they are under the FSSRU, they must be neutral and fair,” he added.
To prevent any similar occurrences in future matches, particularly in the upcoming semi-finals and finals scheduled to take place at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, the FSSRU is updating its officials’ list to ensure high standards of officiating. Muamua reassured that such errors will not happen again in the critical stages of the tournament.