The Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union (FSSRU) is likely to review the Deans competition constitution to include schools from the North in the Vodafone FSSRU Deans playoff.

The lack in number of rugby players in schools to make up an Under-18 side in Northern schools is an issue.

Speaking to SUNsport yesterday FSSRU vice president and Deans/ Raluve competitions director Navitalai Waiwalu said their moving the playoffs this year to Subrail Park was to encourage more Northern schools to field U18 teams.

“From our view, schools in the northern zone do not have the numbers that is why they combine 18 and 19-year-olds to make up U19 teams,” Waiwalu said.

“While we encourage them (schools) there are rules in the constitution to be followed.

“Players who are U18 play up to their U19 to showcase their talent. Schools do not have the numbers for U18 so there is no Deans competition for them.

“It is possible to change but this needs to come through the Annual General Meeting; so for the time being there is no change of rules.”

“If everybody agrees to change rules then the committee will work out something, but in the meantime they (Northern schools) stay in this format playing in three grades (U16, 17 and U19).”

It is obvious that urban drift to the main island has placed northern schools at a disadvantage.

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Story by: ioane.asioli@fijisun.com.fj