The soccer-crazy town of Ba is one game away from creating history and playing in the country’s top premier rugby competition.
The Ba rugby side will take on Northland in the one of the semi-finals of the Vodafone Vanua Championship at Garvey Park in Tavua today.
The other semi-final is between Lautoka and Rewa.
Fiji Rugby Union senior operations officer Tiko Matawalu says they expect an exciting competition between the four teams, with three having been in the Skipper Cup competition in the past.
“Ba is the only team in the semi-finals that hasn’t been in the Skipper Cup competition before. Lautoka, Rewa and Northland have all tasted the Skipper Cup competition, so they are used to high competitive rugby,” Matawalu said.
He said while all four teams had performed well throughout the tournament, Ba woudl be the team to watch during the semi-finals.
“Coming this far into the competition is a huge achievement for Ba. So we know they will be going all out when they play Northland tomorrow because it will be historical for them.”
Ba’s under-20 side will also feature in the competition’s under-20 grade in Tavua.
“In addition to that, we also have the under-20 side in the semi-finals where they will play Navosa,” Matawalu said. “Commonly known as a football-crazy district, Ba securing its spot in the semis will certainly encourage more people to take up the sport.
“We all know Ba to be a place that is famous for football. “But with this achievement in the Vanua Championship, it will encourage more people to play rugby and help with the development of the sport.”
Semi-final fixtures 9am (U20) Cakaudrove-Northern Bulls, 11am (U20) Navosa-Ba, 1pm (Senior) Ba-Northland, 3pm (Senior) Lautoka-Rewa.
