Matawalu: No promotion relegation matches
"Our aim is to reach the Skipper competition and for this team nothing is impossible," he said.
Tuesday 09 September 2025 | 22:30
CJ Patel Group general manager corporate, finanace & risk Manjula Suraweera (fourth from left) and Fiji Rugby Union acting chief executive officer Kali Sewabu (sixth from left) with Royal Tea Ranadi team officials during the official launch at Wesley Church Hall at Butt Street, Suva, on September 9, 2025.
Photo: Laiseana Nasiga
The heat is on for this season's provincial rugby competitions. This was after Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) operation manager Tiko Matawalu revealed yesterday that there would be no promotion relegation matches.
He made the comment while briefing provincial union officials before the official launch of the Royal Tea Ranadi Cup (women) and Vodafone Vanua Championship (men) in Suva.
Matawalu said the winners of the Ranadi Cup and the Vanua Championship automatically gets promoted to the Marama Championship and the Skipper Cup.
That also means the bottom placed teams in the Skipper Cup and Marama Championship automatically gets demoted to the Vanua Championship and Ranadi Cup. The announcement was welcomed by Union officials.
Speaking to SUNsports, Macuata women's rugby coach Motu Lalagavesi said to automatically be promoted is an added incentive in this year's Ranadi Cup competition.
"We're actually playing for a reason to win and get a place in the top competition," she said.
"Macuata won the Ranadi Cup in 2020 but we fell short in the promotion relegation matches," she recalled. Similar sentiment was echoed by Serua Rugby Union secretary Lanieta Nainoca indicating that it is a big boost to both competitions.
"Our preparations are going well compared to last year but we cannot afford to underestimate any team," she said.
Former Fijiana XV halfback now coaching Malolo women's side Fiona Theresa said the aim is to win this year's Ranadi Cup and get to the Marama Championship.
"This is all what we want," she added.
Nasinu Rugby Union logistic officer Jorama Ratulevu said the decision of no promotion relegation match is a step closer to their objective.
"Our aim is to reach the Skipper competition and for this team nothing is impossible," he said.
Similar comments came from Northland, Ovalau and Navosa officials. Navosa is likely to field former Flying Fijians and Fijian Drua tighthead prop Jone Koroiduadua in their opening match on Friday.
Meanwhile, during the briefing Matawalu indicated that a few teams will not be playing in the first round as they have not adhered to the requirements set by FRU.
He said some of these Unions have yet to submit their registration of players to Rugby House as per competition requirements.
"We'll include them in the next round of competition provided they hand in their registrations," Matawalu said.
He urged Union officials to lift their game since we're hoping to become a Tier One team.
"We've delayed the competitions just because of some teams not complying. We've got to think about the sponsors and their mileage from the competition," he added.
