Team Fiji women’s silver medal win at the Commonwealth Games yesterday is a boost to the start of the Weet-Bix Raluve Trophy competition, set for this weekend.

The Raluve Trophy is played by secondary school girls in the Under-16 and U18 divisions. The competition runs parallel with the Vodafone Deans Trophy.

Following the silver medal win in Birmingham yesterday (Fiji time) Fijian women’s 7s head coach Saiasi Fuli says, is a positive sign in terms of getting more girls to play the sport.

This was the first medal to be won by the Fijian women’s 7s team at the Commonwealth Games. This followed their success at the Weet-Bix Raluve Trophy where they won the bronze medal.

Close to 77 schools have registered to take part in the Raluve Trophy competition and last Friday schools in the Eastern Zone had their warm-up matches. The schools will play in their allocated zones before the top teams qualify for the national quarterfinals which will be staged together with the Deans Trophy.

In an earlier interview, Fiji Rugby Union Chief Executive Officer John O’Connor said to have 77 schools in the first year of competition is a huge challenge.

“We had planned initially to start small because we were not sure of the interest but now we’ve seen that there is a huge interest,” O’Connor said.

“We want to use this platform to create the pathways for the young girls coming through Kaji then the provincial sides then to the Fijiana Drua, Sevens and national teams.”

Development Unit at Work

O’Connor added the Fiji Rugby Development Unit officers have been out on the field conducting various coaching courses to ensure that teachers are well versed with the rules and player welfare.

“We have done the groundwork and our development unit has been going around with coaching clinics and also focusing on Strength and Conditioning accreditation so that there are qualified teachers around with sound knowledge to lead the school teams” said O’Connor.

“On behalf of the Fiji Rugby President, Chairman, Board of Directors, management, staff, and rugby family we would like to wish each and every school participating all the best in the next four months”.

Long-Term Journey

CJ Patel Group marketing manager Ashwin Prasad said they are overwhelmed to take on the naming rights of the Girls Secondary Schools Rugby competition.

“We see the need to support girls’ rugby in schools which ultimately supports women’s rugby. The Weet-Bix Raluve secondary schools competition will help drive the development of women in rugby and help transition talent from a young age into the professional arena.”

“It is our firm belief that development and support must start from the grassroots, and we have proven this with our eight-year strong commitment to Skipper Provincial Cup, and recently the launched Skipper Provincial Cup, and now, we start another long-term journey with the secondary schools girls’ rugby.”

“Weet-Bix has been in Fiji for over 20 years and is the number one brand of choice in every home when it comes to breakfast.”

“We all have grown-ups chanting ‘Fiji Kids are Weet-Bix Kids’ and now we are taking this support to the schools to help grow our future rugby stars.”

“Support the journey of these young girls by cheering them on as they represent their schools as one day, they might be showcasing their talent on the global rugby scene”, said Prasad.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj