A dramatic finish to the Vodafone Super Deans Under-18 elimination match between Holy Cross College and Nasinu Secondary School has reignited calls for scoreboards to become a standard feature at secondary school rugby fixtures.
A parent from Wairiki told fijivillage News that Fiji has reached Tier One status in international rugby, yet at the grassroots level schools still cannot afford a proper scoreboard to keep players informed of the score.
The parent says a scoreboard does more than display the score; it provides players, coaches, match officials and spectators with accurate, real-time information that can influence tactical decisions and reduce confusion during crucial moments of a game.
He says in knockout rugby, where every point matters, knowing whether a team is leading or trailing often determines how the final minutes are played.
Holy Cross College's campaign came to a heartbreaking end after one of their players kicked the ball into touch, believing his side was leading against Southern Zone finalists Nasinu Secondary School.
Unaware of the actual score, the player attempted to end the match by putting the ball into touch, only to discover that his team was, in fact, trailing Nasinu Secondary School 21-20.
The costly mistake left players, officials and spectators stunned, with many pointing to the absence of a visible scoreboard as a contributing factor.
While players are expected to maintain awareness during matches, school rugby coaches and supporters say the incident highlights a gap that can easily be addressed through better match-day facilities.
The Holy Cross incident has sparked discussion among rugby supporters about whether tournament organisers should prioritise portable electronic or manual scoreboards at all competition venues, as incidents like this happen every year.
As school rugby continues to grow in popularity and competitiveness, many believe providing accurate score information should become a basic requirement rather than a luxury.
Southern Zone Rugby President, Rusiate Wadali told fijivillage News that the board will get a scoreboard next year.
