The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has announced it will not resume domestic competition this year, and is planning for an early kick-off in 2022.
Domestic rugby has been cancelled in Fiji for 2021. Photo: Fiji Rugby
Its CEO John O'Connor said after thorough consultation and careful consideration, it decided to cancel all the domestic competition for 2021.
"Even though we have received the approval and Certification for our 'Safe Return to Training and to Play' last Friday (1 October), after thorough consultation and careful consideration, we have decided to cancel all our domestic competition for 2021," he said.
"From Monday 4th October we were allowed to commence non-contact training in the field and training in the gym with limited numbers of 20 people at any one time, only for fully vaccinated players, coaches and management of Teams.
"We expect full contact training to be allowed when Fiji achieves 80% of full vaccination and we look forward to the announcement of such relaxation. When such an announcement is made, fully vaccinated players and their Coaches will be allowed to commence full contact training."
Covid-19 has caused major disruption to Fiji's domestic rugby season. Photo: Fiji Rugby
John O'Connor said it was impossible to commence and complete any form of domestic competition safely this year, and the plan is now for FRU to kick off their competition early next year in March.
"We have seriously considered player welfare and safety especially since there has been no training for the last six months and the importance of ensuring compliance to the strict guidelines of our Safe Return to Train and Play and have advised all our Affiliate Unions that we will not be recommencing our Skipper, Vanua and the Women's Competition this year," he said.
"We plan to kick off our competition early next year in March and have urged Unions to focus on their off-season training and prepare accordingly."