AFTER 19 years Catholic parishes around the Central/Eastern Division will get together and revive the Bishop Foley Cup tournament in Suva next month.
The rugby and netball tournament will be held at the Suva Grammar School grounds on December 1-2.
Whilst many teams are preparing to get their hands on the prestigious cup, games committee secretary Jo Qalo said reviving the tourney was a start for them.
The tourney is held in remembrance of Bishop Foley who served in Fiji in the 1950s.
The tournament which started in 1952 in Suva used to feature all parishes around the country but Qalo said the Central Eastern division had taken the initiative to revive the event.
"Before this Cup used to be challenged among parishes throughout the country but we're reviving this tournament looking forward to that to happen again," Qalo said.
"We're trying to give it some life first before we go back to the old format of having a national inter-parish event."
The tourney will feature teams from Ovalau, Natovi, Nausori, Vanuakula, Suva, Raiwaqa, Laucala, Tamavua, Lami, Lomary, Namosi and Veivatuloa.
"The tournament was last held in 1987 when we had competitions over three days from Friday to Sunday but after the 1987 Coup we stopped having the games as they banned sports on Sunday," Qalo said.
"It's been a while since we last held a sporting event in the division and all teams are anticipating to participate.
"This tournament is strictly for parishes members but we'll allow three invitational players in teams provided they reside within the parish vicinity."
The Bishop Cup will be contested in the rugby seven-a-side while other prizes will be up for grabs in netball. While organisers do not have records of the last winner, Qalo said the Cup was at the Samabula Parish.
"We don't have any records of the last winners but at the moment the Cup is sitting at the Samabula Parish and so they will be defending it," he said.
Qalo said the tournament is sanctioned by the Fiji Rugby Union and teams must abide by the FRU rules have been circulated to each team.
Pools games will be played on Friday and finals on Saturday.
