The battle for survival in the 2020 Skipper Cup Premiership is almost a foregone conclusion with three rounds to play.

And the one week break, brought about by the prolonged wet weather, should be a relief to the majority of the top eight provincial teams who have all tested their squad to the extreme in the 11 weeks of fierce competition so far. Now it’s time to recharge, recover and reload.

There will be no rugby this weekend including the Vodafone Vanua Championship semifinals which should decide the two teams to join the 2021 Skipper Cup competition.

It’s almost absolute that Yasawa will be one of the two teams to be demoted as scoring bonus point wins in the three remaining rounds against Tailevu, Nadroga and Naitasiri would be impossible judging by their current winless performance.

The team to join Yasawa would be either Tailevu or Lautoka who are sitting on 17 and 18 points, 7th and 6th place respectively.

Round 12 would be crucial for both teams as Tailevu play Yasawa and the Maroons host Namosi at Churchill Park, Lautoka.

Nadi, after its thumping 37-9 win over Lautoka last weekend, should try to maintain consistency against Nadroga to consolidate its 5th placing.

The top four semifinalists would be decided between Suva, Naitasiri, Namosi, Nadroga and possibly Nadi as it would take a mighty effort from the bottom three teams to break into the top half.

But the one week break is just what teams need to reload and hopefully finish the race with top notch performance.

Meanwhile, the matches scheduled for Friday and Saturday this week will be played on October 16 and 17.

Fiji Rugby Union

Fiji Rugby chief executive John O’Connor said: “We have received confirmation from our venues including Ratu Cakobau Park, Prince Charles Park, Churchill Park and Lawaqa Park. Due to the current prolonged wet weather experienced throughout the country and taking into consideration the present soggy ground conditions, we will not be able to host matches either on Friday and Saturday this week.

“We have also sought guidance from the Fiji Meteorological Service and they have confirmed that the current wet weather conditions will prevail until Sunday next week.

“Further, most of the venue owners have also indicated that their venues will be used for Fiji-50 celebrations.

“As such we have no other options but to defer all the matches to next week.”

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