The Fiji Schoolboys extended squad underwent medical screening at the Fiji Rugby Union High Performance Unit (HPU) in Suva yesterday.

The squad comprise 46 students, from Queen Victoria School (11), from Marist Brothers High (10), RKS (7), Cuvu College (5), Natabua High (4), Nasinu Secondary (3), St John’s College (2) and  Ratu Navula College (2) and one each from Suva Grammar and Lelean Memorial.

Team manager Navitalai Waiwalu said the players have bonded well as they have a tough journey ahead before the final 26 players are selected for the Secondary School Tri Nations Cup in Auckland, New Zealand.

“We are starting off with our medical screening and training sessions, ” Waiwalu said.

“We will assess their fitness and draw up a programme according to their individual strength and endurance because most of them are still recovering from the Deans competition.

“We will be looking at how they progress and that is where discipline and the skills of individual players come in.

“We have two more weekend camps before we choose 26 players.”

The last Fiji Schoolboys international tour was in 2014. Waiwalu said this is an opportunity of a lifetime for the players to secure a future in playing rugby and studying overseas.

“There is obviously going to be scouts there so it is a good chance for them to impress them. This is also an educational trip for them because if spotted they could get a scholarship to study and play rugby.

“In 2014, we had four players given scholarships in New Zealand and three went to France.”

Fiji will play Australia Schoolboys on September 29, New Zealand Schoolboys on October 3 and New Zealand Barbarians on October 8.

Edited by Paula Tuvuki

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