Unions that failed to produce the list of their vaccinated players and officials should be banned from participating in all Fiji Rugby Union sanctioned competition.

It’s time the FRU should take drastic action since we’ve a very busy schedule ahead of us and the opportunity for our upcoming players to stamp their mark in the sport.

At the moment, we’ve to complete the Skipper Provincial Cup competition, INKK Mobile Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy challenges, Vodafone Vanua Championship and the list goes on and on.

We’ve got to prepare our local players for all the engagements that are before us.

The Flying Fijians end of the year tour to Europe and in February, next year, the participation of the Fijian Drua in our first ever Super Rugby Pacific comp.

This is big and we must make use of every time we’ve now for the benefit of our players, their families and rugby as a whole.

Fiji Rugby Union operations manager Sale Sororvaki said, it right, that they might need to work with the unions that have submitted their list.

He also confirmed that seven of out of the 24 provincial unions affiliated with FRU have sent in their list of names along with the vaccination cards.

“These unions are Nadi, Naitasiri, Suva, Tailevu, Lautoka, Rewa, Vatukoula,” Sorovaki said.

“For now we have only about 30 per cent of the teams that have sent in their details.

“Who knows we might have to work with these eight teams if the others keep pulling us back.”

In the major union, Nadroga, Namosi and Northland have not submitted their list.

While in the minor unions, there have been no word from Nasinu, Northern Bulls, Yasawa, Macuata, Bua, Cakadudrove, Serua, Ba, Tavua, Nanukuloa, Navosa, Vatukoula and so on.

The first deadline was set on August 31 where only a few were able to meet it.

It shows that the unions that have not submitted don’t hold any respect for those at Rugby House. These union officials seemed do things their own way.

And are not fair to their players who also deserve an opportunity like this.

This attitude must stop since it is not fair for the unions who have followed the directive.,

The FRU must set a week’s deadline and strictly adhere to it.

Unions that have failed to submit their list on the given new deadline should be banned for two years.

At least, this should serve them a lesson as they cannot be delaying things which hinders our progression in this professional era.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj