Clarification on FSSRU Interim Committee and Vodafone Deans & Wheetbix Raluve

Suva, Fiji – The Fiji Rakavi Football Union Ltd (FRFU Ltd) wishes to update all stakeholders, school principals, players, and the rugby community on the current situation surrounding the commencement of the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby (FSSR) competition.

Following constructive consultations with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the FSSR Executive Committee, a joint agreement was reached to establish an interim committee to oversee the review and administration of schools rugby in line with FRFU’s governance standards and World Rugby best practices. This committee would consist of two representatives each from the FSSRU, MOE, and a few FRFU Ltd nominations, along with an independent administrator appointed by FRFU.

This committee is not only critical for the smooth resumption of the 2025 season, but also for reviewing governance and operational matters, and ministerial directives that were raised by the Ministry and ensuring all school rugby is aligned with the national rugby structure and policies.

The nominations from both FSSRU and MOE finally came this morning, hence the delay in the sanctioning of the games, to which they have been advised to defer the start of the games to a week later to ensure all administrative, sponsorship and logistical matters are in place.

FRFU Acting CEO Koli Sewabu stated:

“The formation of this interim committee is a collaborative solution to respect the concerns of the Ministry while ensuring schools rugby remains under an accountable and aligned framework. Our young players deserve clarity, structure, and the opportunity to play the game they love, and their welfare is of paramount to everyone involved.”

The review process will align with the new strategic direction that FRFU is moving into, which is determined by a number of new global competition structures, including the development of a Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) framework that will align grassroots rugby to high-performance demands.

FRFU Ltd reiterates its commitment to transparency, partnership, and the best interests of our student-athletes, coaches, and stakeholders. We are ready to proceed with games starting next week, contingent on the interim committees’ immediate set up and endorsement process.