Ratu Kadavulevu School Under-18 fullback Saint George Sisi Talei is focused on making the final 28-member squad of the Fijian U18 side to tour Australian next month.

Talei, who hails from Waciwaci in Lakeba, Lau, believes there will be tough competition among the 40 players in the current extended squad but promises to give his best.

“I know there are better fullbacks in the team especially Simione Kuruvoli from Queen Victoria School,” he said.

“I’m ready for the challenge, knowing that this is the first time for me to be part of a national squad so I will give my 100 percent to don the national jumper.”

Talei is a vocational student at RKS doing stage one in carpentry and joinery and he says, if given a chance to represent the country, he would die for it.

“I want to make everyone proud, my family, my village of Waciwaci in Lakeba and also my country. If given the opportunity to represent the country then it’s not a matter of just going out there to represent but it’s a matter of getting to Australia and to give your all for your country,” he said.

The 40-member squad will be trimmed to 28 on Thursday. The 28-member squad will then be marching into weekend camps when school resumes next Tuesday.

The team depart Fiji for Sydney, Australia, on September 24 and will return on October 8.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua
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