User blog comment:B214/Volume 22 spoilers/@comment-30289101-20161022000600/@comment-30289101-20161022004931

I'm fully aware that Bova is only a tournament member, not a real member. That's my point, It would be more strategically viable to have him register as a Rook in order to leave all 8 pawns available for a potential God class recruite later on. However, if Issie is going to be getting his real Rook later on in the story, then it makes sense at least storywise to leave the slot open. It would feel odd for Issie to use his Rook then have her register for the tournament as Pawns (though He certainly could by the tourny rules...)