Ovalau rugby

SADLY, FRU has re-adopted the promotion-relegation series, obviously at the behest of the “bigger and richer” unions. Period.

FRU OPs manager and Tournament director, Tiko Matawalu, stated: “In a bid to enhance the overall Skipper Cup experience for both participants and audience, Rugby House has reintroduced the promotion-relegation concept with a revised format”. Enhance? Oh really? You gotta be joking.

Distinctly, such a decision is ‘antidevelopment”. Period.

Why make it difficult for the Vanua Championship teams by denying them an opportunity, initially?

Why not simply promote the top two vanua teams and demote the bottom two Skipper teams. Simple.

Ovalau Rugby has proven beyond doubt that any team from the lower rungs of local rugby, can mix it with the ‘bigger teams’.

Since its promotion to the Major Union in 2001, and with a cavalry of local island boys only (no imports), Ovalau, in its 15 years of top flight rugby, dethroned well-established premier teams and even went on to win the coveted Farebrother Sullivan Trophy in only its second year in the Major Union.

Ovalau, is the only team in Fiji rugby history that boasts a proud record of having worked its way up from the Island Zone and Minor Union competitions to the Major Union, without any favours but through guts and grit, blood, sweat and tears.

“You don’t know, I tell you.” Yes, I’ve personally witnessed it.

Undoubtedly, FRU embracing the promotion-relegation series is indeed a slap in the face for the Vanua Championship teams.

I do hope that the Vanua Championship teams do make a stand against such an obnoxious decision.

ANTHONY SAHAI

Levuka, Ovalau