Positive year for secondary schools rugby ends on high note

The 2019 Vodafone Super Deans Trophy competition ended on a high note at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka, on Saturday night.

After a slight decline in crowd turnout last year, the competition has risen above that.

For two weeks, there were sell-out crowds despite the fact that the Under-18 semifinals and final were shown live on FBC TV.

This also marked the successful partnership between the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) and Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union Association (FSSRUA).

Their coming together for the first time this year is part of an alignment as per required by World Rugby.

This will help steer the development of the sport in the right direction, with a pathway provided for our students if they want to further their rugby career. Never before has this happened.

This year was also special because it marked their 80th anniversary of the competition and how the FSSRUA executives- the current officials and those who were there in the past- had been able to bring the Deans Trophy competition, this far.

These are the likes of Brother Paul Lavelle, Sailosi Kepa, Jope Nuacabalavu, Sefanaia Koroi, Brian Wightman, Paula Cavu, Sam Foi, Jone Naikatini, Sakaraia Vuki, Suliasi Lutubula, Rupeni Tamani, Ilikimi Kunagogo, Paula Motu, Epeli Lagiloa, Elemaca Ravulo (Macho) and the list goes on.

With FRU onboard along with sponsors Vodafone Fiji, the competition is expected to reach greater heights in 2020.

This was evident at Lawaqa Park; how Queen Victoria School along with Suva Grammar School and Ba Provincial Freebird Institute ended Ratu Kadavulevu School’s dominance in the competition. Queen Victoria took out the Under-18 and U16 grades while Suva Grammar claimed the U14 and U17. Ratu Kadavulevu won the U15 while Ba Provincial took home the U19 title.

World Rugby certified Level 4 coach Nacanieli Saumi had raised the bar when he worked with Ratu Kadavulevu School and put in place development structures.

This saw the school dominating almost all grades of the Deans Trophy competition for the past three years.

We should be grateful of this because it made the other schools work harder and smarter, with rugby being the winner in the end.

It has been a fruitful year of competition and to all students who had participated, it’s time to take a well-deserved rest during the holidays before focusing on your studies.