Fiji cancels 2021 domestic season

The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has confirmed the cancellation of all domestic competitions in the country for the remainder of 2021.

The decision comes despite non-contact training was permitted for fully vaccinated players to a maximum of 20 members from 4th October.

FRU chief executive John O'Connor said the decision was taken considering all the options including player welfare as they could not train for the last six months due to the Covid restrictions.

O'Connor also said that the board is planning to have an early kick-off for the 2022 season in March as he believes it will provide the clubs sufficient time after a tough period due to the pandemic coronavirus.

"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.

"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,"