Schools Rugby League Starts Next Month

Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) acting chief executive officer Don Natabe has confirmed that the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League (FSSRL) competition will start on February 17.

He told SUNsports yesterday that would the Western and South Eastern zones.

“We are expecting a total of 115 teams from over 50 schools due to the expression of interest that we received,” he said.

Natabe said that includes the boys’ Under-16 and U18 grade

“We previously had three categories (U15, U17 and U19) for the Vodafone Trophy competition. The Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League Association has extended the expression of interest and registered an overwhelming amount of interest from schools in the Western and Eastern divisions.”

Natabe said the addition of the two new categories (U16 and U18) in the boys division was made to cater of the large number of interested teams.

“We are looking forward to the Open girls’ competitions that will now increase from six to 10 schools.

“We are expecting Natabua High school to make a return as well.”

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Natabe said they are awaiting a sponsorship review by Vodafone Fiji to determine the addition of the U16 and U18 categories to the competition.

“We have received positive feedbacks and hopefully it will culminate in the approval of an increased sponsorship for the addition of the two new categories,” he said.

“The girl’s competition will have a separate sponsor and that speaks about the confidence of the partners have in girls’ rugby league pathway.”

The national grand final of the Fiji Secondary Schools RL competition will be on April 27 at Prince Charles Park in Nadi.

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