Schools Rugby League Knockout Battle
Expect teams to step up during the Vodafone Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League knockout stages on Saturday.
A total of 12 games will be played at the Buckhurst and Bidesi grounds in Suva as the best schools from the western division test their eastern counterparts.
The best from the west Ra High Roosters, Ba Methodist Saints, Nasikawa Knights, Sigatoka Methodist Storm, Ba Provincial Dragons, Tavua District Rabbitohs, Ba Provincial Dragons and Natabua Bulldogs.
Vodafone Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League (FSSNRL) president Akuila Vute is anticipating good matches in the next three weeks.
“We are expecting the intensity, physicality and the skill levels to up another level this weekend and the coming weeks,” he said.
“We anticipate a good finals coming up especially a very tough zone competitions and most of our players playing rugby league for the first time.
“They’ve learned the basics quite fast.
“We thank FNRL for their development program that have really helped our new schools in learning the game fast.
“It has proved dividend during the competition.
“Our national semi-finals will be held at Churchill Park in Lautoka next Saturday and the Vodafone Cup at the ANZ Stadium on April 17.”
He added that FSSNRL is focused on developing players.
“We are fortunate that the competition is given the green light and the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League are not just focusing on the competition itself,” he said
“They are focusing on nurturing the players in their holistic development to target in qualifying for the Kaiviti Silktails.
Fixtures: U19 QVS Knights-Ra High Roosters, Nasikawa-Nasinu Panthers, RKS Eels-Ba Methodist Saints
U15: Nasinu Panthers-Ra High Roosters, Sukuna Broncos-Tavua District Rabbitohs, Ba Methodist Saints-RKS Eels, Ba Pro DragonsLatianara Raiders.
U17: Marist Storm-Ra High Roosters, LMS Bati-Ba Pro Dragons, RKS Eels-Ba Methodist Saints, Nasinu Panthers-Natabua Bulldogs.