Deans Boost Fijian Under-20 Performance
The return of the Vodafone Deans competition for secondary schools is a boost to the Fijian Under-20 team.
These were comments shared by Fiji Rugby Union High Performance general manager Simon Raiwalui.
The suspension of competition the past two years due to COVID-19, reflected in the poor performance of the Under-20 side in the Oceania Championship held in Australia in July.
The side lost all their three games; 74-5 to New Zealand, 58-5 to Australia and 61-5 to Argentina.
Raiwalui said players did not have much game time and limited in terms of rugby experience for the past two years as the Deans competition was suspended.
“There are two and half generations that missed out on rugby experience; that is huge.
“The Deans coming back for us is massive, in terms of future development, the pathway getting those best players to keep coming through.
“Hopefully we use Deans as a platform to really push our junior national team.”
Meanwhile, the Western Zone secondary schools Vodafone Deans trophy quarter finals will take place on Saturday at Prince Charles Park and Ratu Navula College school grounds.
Under-18 boys will play its last round where Ba Provincial Free Bird Institute will take on Ratu Navula College in Ground One at 1:40pm followed by the Cuvu College and Natabua High School match.
In the Weet-Bix Raluve competition Under 18 quarter finals will feature Nadi Muslim College and Jasper Williams High School, Sigatoka Methodist High School and Ba Methodist, Natabua High School takes on Votualevu College and Ra High School faces Votualevu College.
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