THE 2026 Rooster Chicken Shield will kick off in Ba this Saturday with the introduction of new girls’ age-grade categories, marking a major step forward for women’s rugby development.
Organised by the Ba Rugby Union and supported by Rooster Poultry, the competition will now include U16 and U18 grades to strengthen grassroots pathways for young female players.
Rooster Poultry CEO Stanley Raniga said women’s rugby in Ba had grown significantly since the tournament’s inception in 2023, with the company committed to supporting the sport from grassroots level through to elite competitions.
“Rooster Chicken has been a consistent supporter of women’s rugby from grassroots through to the Fijiana Drua and the national Fijiana team.
” We have been part of the resurgence of women’s rugby in Ba from the outset and that early support at grassroots club level has contributed to Ba’s success in last year’s Ranadi Cup and the team qualification for the Marama Championship.
” Ba is the largest province in Fiji and this initiative reflects the importance of investing in grassroots rugby at scale,” Raniga said.
The added age-grade competitions are expected to provide a clear pathway for players aiming to break into the NewWorld IGA Ba Women’s team, with selectors set to closely monitor performances throughout the tournament. BRU secretary Gaby Kautoga said the growth of women’s rugby in Ba had been remarkable.
“At times women’s rugby can be neglected. But females make up almost half of the supporters at men’s games and the result of that dedication to the sport is the natural progression of women’s and girl’s rugby.
” We know the Raluve competition for secondary school starts in the second term so we have time to finish the 2026 Rooster Chicken Shield,” Kautoga said. Meanwhile, competition is expected to be strong across all grades, with defending senior champions Yakete Nakula set to face a tough challenge from a revamped Bulu Solesole side, while former champions Veiyasana Cagilaba remain a team to watch despite being in a rebuilding phase.
The tournament will also play a key role in selecting the Ba Women’s squad for the 2026 Marama Championship.
With continued backing from Rooster Poultry, the Rooster Chicken Shield is set to remain a key platform for developing the next generation of women rugby players in Ba.
