Secondary school rugby giants in the Eastern Zone has kicked-off its 2023 season despite the wet weather. It shows the determination of the zone officials to get the competition underway after the zone’s poor performance in last year’s Vodafone Deans Trophy competition.

The 2022 Deans Trophy Under-18 final was played by eventual winners Marist Brothers High School and Suva Grammar School at Churchill Park, Lautoka.

It was the first time in the competition’s 83-year-old history to see two Southern Zone schools in the final. This was after schools from the Eastern Zone bowed out in the national quarterfinals.

Last Friday, Lelean Memorial School U18 rugby side travelled to Lodoni where they upset Ratu Kadavulevu School 13-8 in the opening round while Queen Victoria School U18 side went to Ovalau to thrash St John’s College in Cawaci 36-0.

Meanwhile, the Southern Zone competition gets started at the Suva Grammar School and Veiuto Primary School grounds this Saturday. This was confirmed by the Southern Zone president Rusiate Wadali.

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