The achievements of our Fijiana sevens and Rooster Chicken Fiji­ana Drua and Fijiana XVs teams have inspired school girls around the country to embrace rugby.

The Fijiana 7s team won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the silver medal at the recent Com­monwealth Games.

The Drua won the Super W title in their debut year while the Fijiana XVs are pre­paring for the Rugby World Cup Women’s on October 8 to November 12.

The Weet-Bix Raluve Trophy competi­tion has attracted 77 secondary school teams around the country.

Speaking to SUNsports, Weet-Bix Raluve Trophy rugby competition coordinator Deborah Gucake said the weekly compe­tition is getting tougher.

“We are so excited to see that women’s rugby has grown with the inclusion of the secondary schools girl’s competi­tion,” she said yesterday.

Inspire

“The Fijiana teams both the fifteens and sevens, have really inspired these young girls to play rugby.

“Most of these girls know that rugby can take them places and even earn a living.

“It’s interesting to see that most of these girls have chosen to play rugby over net­ball, hockey, athletics and even basket­ball.

“As the coordinator I’m happy and hon­oured with mix-emotions knowing that most of these girls will make it big in rugby.”

Gucake said the competition would pick up following the Fijiana Drua’s con­firmed participation in the Super W com­petition where the Senirusi Seruvakula ­coached- side is defending the title.

“For that high level of competition we need high level skills developed from the under-14 to under-17.

“This is where skills are supposed to be sharpened,” she said.

“Players in these age groups are taught how to catch and pass, kick, run lines­basic rugby skills.

“If they develop these skills from an ear­ly age, I’m sure we will have a lot of very good players knocking on Super Rugby doors and offshore lucrative rugby pack­ages.”

Feedbacks: simione.haravanua@fijisun.com.fj