FSSRU approves guest player rule for Deans Trophy elimination rounds

Schools competing in the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union (FSSRU) Deans Trophy competition can now register up to six guest players from schools within the same zone for the national play-offs and elimination rounds.

Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) acting chief operations officer Talemo Waqa said the change was among a few amendments to the competition’s Terms of Participation (TOP) approved by the interim FSSRU committee.

Teams are also allowed to register up to 41 players instead of the usual 35, with the re-registration window closing today.

“They have the opportunity to pick players from the same age grade within their own school or from schools in their zone that have been eliminated,” Waqa said.

Guest players can only be registered after consent forms are signed by the player, parents or guardians, coach, and the heads of both the original and receiving schools.

Waqa said the consent process was essential to ensure player welfare while allowing talented players from eliminated schools to continue competing.

“Some teams may lack depth in certain positions during the elimination rounds and quarter-finals, so they can bring in a hooker, halfback or kicker from schools that have been knocked out,” he said.

“It is also about talent identification. There are talented players at other schools and, if their teams are out, that talent would otherwise be wasted.”

Guest players will continue to use the identification cards issued by their original schools.

“This is the first year we are trying it, and schools are already accepting and supporting the idea,” Waqa said.

The revised rules also allow players to move up within grades at the same school, provided they are no more than two grades below the age-group division.

“Because of the second registration period, schools can promote players from lower grades to play up. These elimination rounds will be different because teams can now include guest players.”

60-day rule removed

Another significant change is the removal of the 60-day enrolment rule.

Students who have been enrolled at a new school for less than 60 days will now be eligible to represent that school, provided the principal confirms they are bona fide students.

“In some cases, students move schools in less than 60 days. As long as they are eligible by age and grade, there is no reason to restrict them,” Waqa said.

He said the interim committee—comprising representatives from the Ministry of Education, FRU and FSSRU executives—had carefully considered the amendment.

“For all matters relating to school enrolment and whether a student is bona fide, the Ministry of Education signs off. For rugby matters, the FRU signs off, so it is a fair process,” Waqa said.

“Some students move because their parents relocate. However, if a player has moved because of suspension or expulsion, they will not be eligible to play.

“We also want to ensure players are not moving solely for rugby. The ministry will advise us if that is the case. The ministry decides on school transfers, while we make the rugby decisions.”

New U18 elimination format

The Under-18 competition will also feature a new elimination round this Saturday, with matches to be played across the respective zones.

Waqa said the new format gives teams an equal opportunity to qualify for the national quarter-finals.

Previously, qualification numbers varied by zone; the West was allocated two spots while the South and East have three spots; there was none from the North.

“Now they have to fight for a place in the quarter-finals,” he said.

“There is a bit more fairness for the zones, especially the West and the North,” Waqa said.

“The other grades remain unchanged. We want to start here so people understand why we’re making these changes.”

Under the new format:

• The East’s top two teams will face the Southern Zone’s third and fourth-placed teams.
• The Southern Zone’s top two teams will host the North’s third and fourth-placed sides.
• The Western Zone’s top two teams will host the East’s third and fourth-placed teams.
• The North’s top two teams will take on the West’s third and fourth-placed teams.

DEANS NATIONAL PLAY-OFF

AND ELIMINATION DRAWS

Southern Zone, Suva Grammar School grounds

9:30am Under-16 3rd place play-off: Suva Grammar School v Labasa College, 9:50am: U19 3rd play-off Ratu Simione Matanitobua College v Dreketi Central College, 12pm U18 elimination: Nasinu Secondary School v Holy Cross College, 1:30pm U18 elimination Suva Grammar Scholl v Ratu Luke Secondary School

Admission: Adults: $15, Children in uniform: $5, Primary school students: $3.

Eastern Zone, St Vincent College Ground, Natovi

9:30am: U15 3rd place play-off: Queen Victoria School v Holy Family Secondary School, 9:50am: U17 play-off: Lelean Memorial School v Nabala Secondary School, 12pm U18 elimination: Lelean Memorial School v Marist Brothers High School, 1:30pm U18 elimination: Ratu Kadavulevu School v Ratu Sukuna Memorial School.

Admission: Adults: $10, Students in uniform: $5.

Western Zone, Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka

10am: U18 elimination: Ba Provincial Freebird Institute v Queen Victoria School, 1pm: U18 elimination Cuvu College v St John’s College

Admission: Adults: $15, Children in uniform: $5.00, Primary school students: $3.

Northern Zone, Ganilau Park, Savusavu

8:30am: U15 3rd place play-off: Holy Cross College v Nasinu Secondary School, 9:45am U16 3rd place play-off St Bedes College v Lelean Memorial School, 11am: U17 3rd place play-off: Batinikama College v Marist Brothers High School, 12:25pm: U19 3rd place play-off: Navatu Secondary School v Queen Victoria School, 1:50pm: U18 eliminationa: Shiri Guru Nanak Khalsa College v Ratu Navula College, 3:15pm: U18 elimination Navatu Secondary School v Ra High School.

Admission: Grandstand: $20, Ground: $10, Children: $5.