AFTER 15 years of playing in the major union, the Ovalau Rugby Union plans to make a comeback to the top next year.
Ovalau was demoted to the Vanua Championship (B-Division) after they lost to Malolo in 2015 in the promotion-relegation series.
Ovalau rugby president Sakiasi Bukalidi said despite being dropped to the B-Division, they believed they could make their way up again.
“After 15 years in the major union, we believe we can find our way back to play among the big guns despite being relegated in 2015 .
“In 2016 because of the devastation of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston we were affected and most of our homes were badly damaged and some destroyed,” said Bukalidi.
With the new management, the union’s ambition is to comply with the strategic plan given by the Fiji Rugby Union.
“I believe it will be a way forward for Fiji rugby and we would participate in order to make a difference in the sport.
“We are aiming to rewrite history as the only team outside the main island to have won the HFC Bank Farebrother Cup in 2002 and we look forward to doing it again this year,” he said.
Ovalau rugby was the only team outside the mainland that has won and sailed the HFC Bank Farebrother Trophy across the ocean to the Old Capital in 1992 when they defeated Lautoka.
