The Ba Rugby Union has set plans to elevate the union in the 2017 season.

The newly elected-committee which was elected in September, last year, just nine weeks before the end of the rugby season has been endorsed by the Fiji Rugby Union. The BRU executives aim to make appropriate changes so that the union could be in line with other unions in the country.

In a correspondence with SUNsports, BRU spokesperson, Jokatama Rarasea, said their aim is to put in place certain regulatory mechanisms which were missing for perhaps time immemorial. This probably explains why rugby in Ba was always in the doldrums.

“These mechanisms include club registration, competition rules and regulations, mobilising a ground’s committee, seeking possible sponsors, harmonising relations with the Ba Town Council, re-marking the ground and introducing a second ground complete with flags and goalpost padding.

“Re-introducing 80 minutes game instead of 30 minutes, security during club games, introducing of match commissioner, citing commissioner and judiciary, introduction of technical zone, mobilising primary school and high school teachers as volunteers,” Rarasea said.

FIRST CARNIVAL

The newly elected- committee for the first time ever in the history books of BRU organised a four-day carnival to assist with the financial operations since there has been no money in the bank account.

Rarasea said the money raised would be used at the first ever off season programme.

“We had a successful fundraising with a nett profit of $10,250 especially when there was no financial hand over by the former administration eventuating in the opening of a new bank account with zero balance while expenses amounted to $19,575.80.

“So effectively a total of $29, 825.80 of cash flow revolved in the market grounds over four-days of the carnival. Money raised would be used at the first-ever off-season programme as well as purchasing some much-needed sporting equipment.

“Tackle bags, hit shields, cones, rugby balls and for transportation to warm-up games prior to the start of the Vodafone Vanua competition in April,” he added.

For this year BRU has plans to have another fundraising in August subject to the availability of grounds and working in association with the Ba Town Council.

2016 SEASON

“Previously all games were previously played at 15-minute halves according to club delegates with one ground only. After the change of the new committee games were played at 80-minutes.

“ After the election of the new committee the very next Saturday friendly games were organised to entice clubs back as some clubs had left the competition in frustration with governance issues.

“Second round competition therefore spanned the entire five Saturdays of October before the knockout competition. The knockout final was held at Govind Park coincided with the closing of the festival and was witnessed by the Marama Na Tui Ba and Turaga Na Tui Ba,” he added.

NEW YEAR 

The BRU has kicked off their first ever off season programme however the concept is very new and attendance is a slight problem but players are slowly trickling in.

“This is coupled with several players included in the off-season programme but are currently involved in sevens competitions in the greater Western region,” Rarasea said.

The BRU is also thankful to have Govind Park as their home ground for the Vanua Championship as their will be four home games and three tours apart from the three cross games.

The union is also trying to organise some warm-up games with the major union teams.

“The only way we see to best prepare for 2017 is the off-season currently underway now. We have had two fitness tests already with the last one scheduled for the first week of February.

“Similarly, we are trying to organise some warm up games with our mentor-unions from the Skipper Cup premiership as pre-season,” Rarasea added.

Meanwhile, Ba play their first game of the Vanua Championship against Navosa at Govind Park on April 1, their second round against Lautoka on April 8 at Nadovu Park in Lautoka.