Title on line in GPS clash
THE ultimate prize will be on the line when Ronan Kapi and his The Southport School teammates take the field together one last time.
In his fourth and final year at the school, Kapi wants to make today’s game up at Nudgee College count.
“It’s a bit emotional,” Kapi said. “It would be good to end on a win.”
The two teams shared the GPS Rugby premiership last year but the winner of their final round crunch match will this time take the title outright. Both powerhouse schools are undefeated in First XV rugby this year.
In fact, TSS are yet to taste defeat in their open sides from first to fifth grade; that equates to 32 competition matches unbeaten plus a further 13 trial games.
“It’s really good just to know that we have got that kind of depth in the school,” Kapi said.
“We have had a few injuries over the year and the boys that have come from the other teams have really stepped up.”
Effectively a grand final, given there are no play-off matches in GPS Rugby, the occasion is set to be greeted by a 10,000-strong crowd.
The 2.15pm showdown will kickstart a bumper day for Gold Coast rugby, with the local comp’s first grade grand final starting at 3pm and the Wallabies hosting Argentina at Cbus Super Stadium from 8pm.
Outside centre Kapi said the match is a “once in a lifetime” opportunity that he is grateful for.
He has enjoyed a stellar season to date, beating 35 defenders from 58 carries in a sign of just how hard he has been to halt.
The 18-year-old plans to mix rugby with tertiary studies next year either in business management or sports nutrition. But first, he has a job to do against Nudgee.
In the corresponding clash last year, TSS ran down Nudgee 34-22 to draw level for the competition lead. Zane Nonggorr scored two tries.
“It was a tough game,” Kapi recalled.
Today’s action will also mark the last match for Second XV coach Col Webb, who has built a phenomenal record of 105 wins from 120 matches since 2005. Victory against Nudgee will secure the 10th premiership under his watch.