TAILEVU and Tavua are two major union teams confirmed to be relegated to lower grade competition from next year.

And there are no two ways about this as FRU chief executive John O’Connor confirms that the four teams ranked at the tail end of the table will be shoved to a lower competition in 2017.

This, he said, was the decision made by the council.

“The council meeting last year had endorsed the new format of eight teams in the Tier 1 competition and four Teams dropping to the Tier 2 competition,” O’Connor said.

The other two to join them will come from Vatukoula, Lautoka and Macuata but the Northerners have a better chance over the gold town team and the Sugar City boys because they face Tavua in the final round of the Skipper Cup tomorrow.

Vatukoula will face table toppers Suva and Lautoka will take on their neighbours Nadi who are currently ranked seventh.

Should Macuata win their last game against winless Tavua, they will be safe on the eighth spot.

Meanwhile, in the race for a semi-final berth, the capital side, Stallions and Naitasiri are safe for a semi-final berth. Suva currently tops the table with 40 points while Nadroga and Naitasiri are locked at 36 points each.