The Ba Rugby Union is gearing up for its final pre-season showdown, named the Battle of the Bridge, scheduled for January 27.
This highly anticipated event will feature matches across men’s, women’s, and under-21 categories, serving as the ultimate trial for the coveted spots in the main Skipper Cup squad.
After their promotion to the Skipper Cup competition for the upcoming season, the Ba Rugby Union has been in full force since the Vanua Challenge final earlier this year, preparing for the challenges that lie ahead in 2024.
The Tikina Championship, a premier competition for BRU, marks a significant milestone as they identify potential players for the extended 60-player squad.
Head coach Filimoni Delasau, buoyed by the success of the team, is keen on selecting a formidable squad for the upcoming season. The Battle of the Bridge will assist the coaching management to select their final squad for next season.
“The Battle of the Bridge will include teams from each Tikina’s that are on each side of the Ba River,” BRU secretary Gabby Kautoga said.
“One team will include Tikina Bulu, Savatu, Magodro and Qeleyalitina while the other team will consist of Tiliva/Bukuya, Veiyasana, Yakete and Naloto.
“We are expecting an exciting day of rugby.”
In addition to the Battle of the Bridge, Ba has also entered a team for the 2024 McDonald’s Coral Coast 7s, emphasising their commitment to both the 7s and 15s programs. Kautoga outlined the strategic approach, stating: “Now we have 7s program and 15s program.
“For all 7s tournaments starting with Coral Coast 7s, only our 7s players will attend and we have our 15s players they will just focus on 15s rugby.
“We have had our coaching clinic to upskill and accredit all our coaches starting from club level to prepare them for the new season. It’s a good start,” Kautoga said.
