U20s monitored

The Vodafone Fijian Under-20 rugby players around the country turned up for their trials at the Bidesi grounds in Suva on Friday. They are all trying to win a spot in the team that will play at the Junior World Cup in Italy.

Leading them at the trials were Fiji Airways Flying Fijians winger Jiuta Wainiqolo and Fiji Airways Fijian 7s training squad member Simione Kuruvoli as they were closely monitored by head coach Kele Leawere.

“Their training has been good,” Leawere said. “The players have been turning out at their local training sessions on a daily basis.

“Today what we’re having here is a session where the boys come in and show us what they have been doing at their daily training environment. It starts with their skills and in the afternoon we had our scrimmages.”

“It’s been good most of the players have come out of the Dean’s Trophy competition as well so this is the next level for them.

“We have got some boys from Vanua Levu. Some of the boys have put their hands up from the Coral Coast 7s so we have included them as well. It’s just looking at them and closely monitoring those who will make the final cut.”

Leawere added the squad would later be trimmed and is hoping the youngsters in the Swire Shipping Warriors side would join the team later.

“The travelling squad is normally 30 we have 50 at the moment. We will have camps and some of our players are in the Warriors as well so at the same time we are looking at both teams.

“When the Warriors campaign is over then will see if the boys in the under-20 can compete and push the Warriors boys out or the Warriors will push these under-20 boys out.

“It’s more like a competition which is good for the team but it will be a headache for the coaches.” Meanwhile, Ratu Kadavulevu School Under-18 captain Ilikimi Torosi is back with the squad.

“Torosi has been training well in Sigatoka and he needs to put his hands up if he wants to be included,” Leawere said.

“It’s very competitive the boys out there are willing to prove themselves to put on that jersey so for him he needs to put in that extra work to get back into the team.”