Naevo Jnr Scores Try As Ratu Navula Survives Test

Apenisa Naevo Jnr is trying his best to make sure that his Ratu Navula College Under-16 makes it to the 2022 Vodafone Deans Rugby championship.

He scored a try in their 24-23 victory over Ba Methodist High School in the U16 semifinal of the Western Secondary Schools Rugby Championship at Prince Charles Park, Nadi, today.

“It was good to score a try in the semifinal,” Naevo said.

He added that Ba Methodist High School was a tough opponent as they struggled to maintain their winning run this season.

“We had a slow start as we were down 8-0 at one stage, but we knew that we were going to make a comeback. We were a bit sloppy but we had to work on it.”

Naevo’s dad and namesake Apisai Naevo Snr, played for the Flying Fijians and Auckland Blues in Super Rugby.

“I’m following my dad who has set a benchmark for us siblings to follow,” he said.

Naevo Jnr started his rugby at Andrews Primary School in Nadi and later made it to the Nadi Kaji teams.

“Last year there was no competition due to COVID but our aim is to make the cut for the Deans Trophy in the U16 grade.”

His elder brother Pasikali, a Year 12 student at the Natabua High School is also playing rugby.

The brothers are part of the Eteni Rukunurara Youth Under-18 side that plays in the Nadi Rugby Union junior competition.

The Western Secondary School finals will be held next Saturday, followed by the Deans Rugby Championship quarter-finals the following week at the same venue.

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