BA Rugby Union’s registered clubs met on Thursday to discuss the upcoming club competition, which kicks off at Vinod Patel Park on March 1.
The two-hour meeting included very useful input from the clubs which will shape the tournament regulations.
The schedule for the complete 2025 season was also shared.
“The bad weather did affect the turnout somewhat,” BRU secretary Gaby Kautoga said, “but we were very happy with the way those clubs who attended gave their views.”
Key decisions that were made include the following:
Registration
• Costs for club registration are $500 (Premier) and $250 (Lower).
• A minimum of 50 per cent of the registration fee must be paid before the draw on Monday, February 24. The remaining 50 per cent must be paid prior to Round 4 on March 22.
• All registered clubs will receive three training balls from the tournament sponsors.
• All players need to register before being permitted to play. Registration requires a completed form, copy of birth certificate and a photo.
• Clubs fielding unregistered players will incur a fine.
• All players will need to pay $5 towards the cost of medical insurance for the year – this covers all expenses pertaining to injuries incurred during Ba club rugby, Ba Tikina rugby or while representing Ba at any level. This includes travel costs to and from medical centres.
• All fully registered players/coaches/officials will receive a BRU ID Card which will give them discounts at certain sponsors’ retail outlets.
• ID Cards are for life, unless a player transfers to another union. The $5 insurance contribution is annual.
Competition format
• The tournament will be in two tiers, with automatic promotion and relegation for two clubs.
• The top 16 finishers from 2024 will be in the top tier, which will be two pools of eight, with the top four clubs from 2024 seeded.
• The second tier will have pools of six, seven or eight clubs.
• Because of the large number of teams, some matches will be held on Friday afternoons.
• Pool play will be followed by quarter-finals for all teams.
• BRU will upgrade the medical services at the grounds with the assistance of a new partner.
Other issues
• Now that BRU has found a tournament sponsor (to be announced), prize money will be at least double that of last season.
• The tournament launch will be on Saturday, February 22. All Team Captains are requested to join the march through town.
• Pool games ending in a draw will remain as a draw with teams awarded two points each, none of this golden point stuff.
• To aid communications, all club secretaries and/or managers must have a mobile phone and a Viber account.
• Teams unable to play on a certain day must inform the BRU secretary or tournament director in writing at least seven days beforehand. Such a game may or may not be postponed, depending on circumstances.
• All efforts will be made for matches to kick off on time. Clubs not being ready pitch side in time for their games will face a fine (which will be deducted from prize money).
• Teams arriving more than 10 minutes after the scheduled kick-of time will forfeit the match, though allowances for unforeseen circumstances like flooded crossings will be made.
• A complete no-show may result in a fine and loss of five (5) competition points depending on the explanation from the Club.
• All transfers of players must be on the appropriate form and submitted to the BRU secretary or tournament director at least 48 hours before the player can participate in a game for his new club.
Discussions were also had on the reintroduction in November of the Koronubu Shield, with equivalent challenge matches for the Women, Juniors and U17s at Govind Park.
Talks on this will continue at the next meeting, which will be after the launch on Saturday, February 22.
Attending a club meeting isn’t always easy during the rainy season, as was the case on Thursday when Toge Rugby Club Manager John Sadole came upon this sight on his way to Ba Town. “I had to wait an hour before being able to get over the flooded crossing,” he said. “Luckily, I left the village in good time so I was able to reach the meeting halfway through.” Picture: BA RUGBY
