FRU warns unions: Compliance key for 2026 season

Provincial unions playing under the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) domestic competitions will need to put their house in order before the kick-off of the next season.

Board chairman John Sanday said with Fiji securing its status as a Tier One rugby nation, all member unions are obligated to live by the Terms of Participation (TOP) of the competition they fall under.

These TOP includes governance structures, financial accounts, provincial club games, player registration, conducting union AGMs (annual general meeting) and constitutions.

Following the Special General Meeting (SGM) in Nadi earlier this month, Sanday said it was unfortunate that Ba and Nadi were the only two unions who were fully compliant; the other 24 unions did not.

“Next season, compliance will be the key defining factor of participation. I therefore remind member unions to use the months ahead to start working towards attaining full compliance,” Sanday said.

“Each union is aware of the requirements; it is not anything new. This has been in place for a while now.

“We have allowed non-compliant unions to participate this season and have constantly reminded them that we are all on a journey to Tier 1 status and we are all required to be compliant.”

Sanday is pleading with the unions to use the off season months to be compliant ready by the time 2026 season starts.

He added FRU will be doing visitations to member unions in the new year to help them get compliant and the office is always open for anyone wanting to know more about the processes and ways toward full compliance.

“The CEO (Koli Sewabu) and board are considering providing financial incentives for compliant unions and there will also be options available for unions that cannot comply for various reasons and those that just don’t want to make the effort to comply. These will be discussed and approved first by the board before it is announced,” Sanday said.

“We are all in this journey together.

“Fiji rugby has a big year in 2026 on both the domestic and global game and we want to ensure we are all on this journey together.

“We will be journeying together to a higher level as we strive to take everyone to Tier 1 style standards across the country.”

Meanwhile, the major unions in this year’s Skipper Cup competition are Ba, Nadi, Macuata, Naitasiri, Suva, Lautoka, Vatukoula, Tailevu, Nadroga and Malolo.