The Fijian Under-20 rugby side take on Vodafone Vanua Championship (West) point leaders Lautoka in another friend­ly match this Saturday.

This is part of head coach Koli Se­wabu’s strategy to develop his play­ers for the 2018 World Rugby U20 Trophy competition to be played in Romania, this August.

Last Saturday, the Fijians U20 held a strong Navy side to a 25-25 draw at Bidesi Park in Suva.

TRANSITION

Sewabu said the main focus is to help the players’ transition from high school rugby to international competition level.

“This is an opportunity for us to get together and play some games as part of our build-up to the jun­ior world tournament so we are playing against teams playing in the Vodafone Vanua Challenge or the Skipper Cup Premiership com­petitions.

“The focus right now is the tran­sition from high school to the level that is required in terms of train­ing and international competi­tions.

“Getting them to play some better opposition to up skill them quickly.

“I’m trying to get the boys to play against bigger opponents because those are the sort of teams that we’ll meet when we get to the 2018 World Rugby U20 Trophy.”

ACADEMY

Sewabu said players would need to be identified at an early age so that they are able to be put into an academic system.

“The main purpose is to have those that have been identified ear­lier on at a much young age and put them into an academy system.

“Then build-up everything that is required for them to compete at a higher level.

“We have seen this with a number of boys in the test line- up last Sat­urday who are part of the Fiji Air­ways Flying Fijians.

PRODUCTS

“It is players like Eroni Mawi, Frank Lomani and Vere Vugakoto.

“We’re still two months away, we play A few games and after this we will map out a plan for the Junior World tournament.”

– Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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