Risk Not Worth Taking
Gone are the days where we host provincial matches in substandard venues because hardly anyone benefits.
Monday 10 August 2020 | 13:04
Rugby fans sit on the roof of a house beside Thomson Park in Navua to watch the Namosi’s clash against Naitasiri on August 8, 2020. Photo: Ronald Kumar
Analysis:
Is it worth the risk? Definitely not and rugby should not turn the clock back if the sport is to progress.
Kudos to Namosi for retaining the Farebrother–Sullivan Trophy by edging Naitasir 17-15 at Thomson Park, Navua on Saturday.
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But gone are the days where we host provincial matches in substandard venues because hardly anyone benefits.
Gone are days where temporary sheds are erected for officials while ropes are put in place to cordon off fans. Those days are long gone as we have the venues in a place where we can spend Saturday watching the game we love.
Where’s social distancing... rugby fans watching the Namosi and Naitasiri clash at Thomson Park, Navua on August 8, 2020. Photo: Ronald Kumar
Unfortunately, this was not the case on Saturday where Namosi played Naitasiri in the premier match of the round. Simply it was not ideal.
The match broke COVID-19 protocols with fans failing to adhere to social distancing rules and the 50 per cent capacity due to space limitations.
Fans watched the match from rooftops and trees adding risk to the game.
We can’t blame fans but organisers should take responsibility and should act now to prevent it from recurring.
Edited by Leone Cabenatabua
Feedback: oseab@fijisun.com.fj
