Suva has included experienced coaches in preparation for the 2017 Rewa Galaxy Kaji Rugby tournament on August 14-17 at the ANZ Stadium, Suva.

Suva Kaji Rugby president Michael Koroi said they focused their attention on the coaches instead of the players. This was to ensure that qualified coaches were teaching players the right skills and techniques, he said

“We have always done the same thing every year and we have got the same results but this year we have changed things a bit,” Koroi said.

“We sent our teachers to attend Level One and Level Two coaching courses. They have also taken some strength and conditioning workshops and referees clinics.

“We thought that instead of looking at the boys, we need to look at the people who teach the boys.

“But this really needs to start from primary schools because once they join the Suva team, we only have three weeks to prepare.

“With less time to prepare, we need boys who already know the basics so that we do not need to spend time teaching them and can just focus on preparations for the competition.

“We need all our Suva schools and all the coaches teaching the correct skills so by the time they come to the Suva team it is much easier for us to work with them.

“What worries us is they are making the basic mistakes, things that they should not be doing now.”

With the three new districts (Buca Bay, Taveuni and Beqa) joining the competition this year, Koroi said their presence would lift the morale of the  tournament.

“We have 19 districts coming from all parts of the country and outer islands and we have always tried to make sure that we do our best,” he said.

“Whether we win something or not is a bonus for us but if we can get our boys to play to the best of their ability then for us that is enough.

“We know that Taveuni has always produced good rugby players and they have a very strong outfit. Buca Bay is an old team and they have just split from Cakaudrove East.

“We don’t know anything about Beqa, they are a new team and will be bringing in a lot of enthusiasm with them.”

Edited by Osea Bola

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