THERE has been widespread praise for Ba after hosting the Super Rugby Pacific clash between the Fijian Drua and the ACT Brumbies.
The occasion was made even more memorable when the Drua produced a historic 42–27 victory over the Brumbies, sending the sold-out crowd at 4R Stadium into celebration.
The town has been widely commended for being a great host, providing an immaculate pitch and a capacity crowd for the big occasion.
This is rugby, after all.
Just mentioning the game brings an adrenaline rush, and Fijians around the world are known for their deep passion for the sport.
Rugby creates an outpouring of support.
It is often said, almost as a cliché, that fans will drop their chores just to catch a glimpse of the action.
So whether it is Ba, Lautoka or Suva, the Drua will always draw a crowd and sell out matches.
But without sounding like a resentful voice from the past, it is worth remembering that Fiji has seen even bigger crowds before.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Nadi was bursting at the seams during Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy challenge matches, especially when they faced Nadroga or Suva.
Those matches packed stadiums to the rafters.
However, here is the reality check, if Nadi and Nadroga had stadiums capable of hosting top-tier competitions like Super Rugby Pacific, those towns would easily be mentioned in the same breath as Ba, Lautoka and Suva.
What we must remember is that Nadi and Nadroga are districts that “breed rugby players on the turn of a pebble,” as renowned rugby commentator Graham Eden once famously said in the 1970s.
Many of the biggest names in rugby have come from these areas, going on to play professionally in Australia, New Zealand and later in France, England and Japan.
Nadi duo Jo Levula and Apisai Toga paved the way for what would become a long line of Fijian rugby greats playing overseas.
Levula was one of the first Fijians to play professional rugby league in England, joining Rochdale Hornets in 1961.
From Nadroga, players such as Noa Naduruku, Acura Niuqia and Lote Tuqiri also helped elevate Fiji’s reputation on the international rugby stage.
Fiji has the players. Fiji has the fans.
What the country still lacks is the infrastructure, stadiums capable of attracting major matches and providing the quality facilities the game deserves.
Ba has now shown what is possible.
With its strong rugby programme under former globe-trotting professional Vilimoni Delasau and a stadium capable of hosting top-level matches, the town has every reason to stage more major fixtures in the future.
But Ba’s success should also serve as a reminder and perhaps a wake-up call that other rugby heartlands in Fiji deserve the same opportunity if the right infrastructure is built.
