Rugby first-timers play for Marist U19
It was not the start the Marist Brothers High School Under-19 rugby side expected in the opening round of the Southern Zone Secondary Schools rugby union competition.
They lost 21-10 to Nasinu Secondary School at the Suva Grammar School grounds last Saturday.
MBHS U19 side was coached by Mitieli Logavatu and trained by former national sevens and Flying Fijians star winger Sireli Bobo.
Team manageress Arieta Sakosese said Bobo had brought his wealth of experience to help guide the young side, which consisted of only three U19 players.
She added that it was a pathway to develop their U19 team for the future.
“I think we’ve done our part, the boys have their part as well” she said.
“It’s the first time for them to be playing in this grade– the super premier grade.”
Majority of the MBHS students are members of the athletics squad preparing for the Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics finals on August 18-20.
“These boys are those that are not in the athletics team and have not been selected in any other grades, so they fall back into the under-19 team– they are called the rest of the world,” Sakosese said.
“In fact, 80 per cent of these players are new; they have never played rugby. This is their first time playing rugby, we are thankful for their preparation and what they have done.
“We are going to pick up the pace from here.
“This is the first game for them toplay in those positions. It is quite humbling to score two tries against Nasinu Secondary School.
“It’s a wonderful experience to have Bobo.
“He is an asset not only on the field but also in the spiritual sense.
“We are thankful and grateful to him to be part of this team.”