‘No Retreat, No Surrender’

Despite injuries to their key players, the young Tailevu rugby team will not surrender in today’s Skipper Cup clash against Suva at Nakelo District School ground.

Speaking to SUNsports, yesterday Tailevu head coach Samisoni Baikeitoga said they stand a good chance of making the top four on the points table, if they beat Suva.

“We’re already in the Skipper Cup quarterfinal,” the no-non-sense coach said.

“A top four finish will give us the opportunity to challenge for the Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy.

It’s a chance of a lifetime for these young players to play in the Farebrother challenge.”

Baikeitoga said the INKK Mobile Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy is the prestigious rugby title in the country.

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He said for the past three years, Tailevu has been missing out on the Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy challenge.

We last made it there in 2020.

“The boys have been told of this and they are hyped up for this game because we’re almost there.”

Baikeitoga said looking back it has been a challenging year with them bringing up a very young team.

“Most of our players from last year have secured contracts in France, New Zealand while some of our players are now working in Australia.

“So we had to bring up another lot of young players.

After our game against Macuata in Labasa, our captain Laisenia Manuqila and winger Maika Selema are now injured but we’ve got players who are stepping in for them,” Baikeitoga added.

Tailevu was at one time regarded as the country’s rugby giant for winning the provincial championship (now known as the Skipper Cup) and successfully defending the Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy.

During that time, Tailevu has produced top players like Waisiki Masirewa, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Sunia Sevu, Meli Tamanitoakula, Jone Kaila, Henry Seniloli, Apenisa Sassen, Lance Whippy, Inoke Male and the list goes on.

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