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.

Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj