People call for review of Deans rugby laws for U18 and U19 knockout games

Concerns continue to be raised on why the Vodafone Super Deans Rugby Competition U18 and U19 knockout games are not going into extra time when there is a draw and why the players are only playing 70 minutes rugby.

When questioned on why there is no extra time after a game has come to a draw, the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union referred fijivillage News to their Rules of Competition 2023 where it says in the event of a draw at full time, the winner shall be the team that scored the most number of tries.

If the draw still remains, the team with the most number of converted tries is awarded the win.

The rules say if the draw still remains, the team that scored the first try takes the win and if the draw still remains, the team that scored the first point is awarded the win.

Queen Victoria School were awarded winners after their 14-all draw with Suva Grammar School in the under-18 semi final because QVS scored the first try.

Many people are asking why can’t there be an outright winner and both teams play extra time.

They are saying for the U18 and U19 grades, changes should be considered by the officials and we should also have 40 minutes halves.

When fijivillage News asked Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union Secretary, Waisake Tuicakau this question, he referred us to the World Rugby Variation on Time which states a match lasts 70 minutes (split into two halves, each of not more than 35 minutes) plus time lost, however, there is no longer an under 19 age grade competition as this has been replaced by the under 20s.

The Fiji Under-20 team is currently ranked 10th after the recent World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa.

They lost to Australia, England, Argentina, Ireland and only won against Italy.

Vodafone Super Deans Semis