MGM sets its eyes on prestigious Deans Trophy title
AFTER an impressive outing at the Vodafone Deans Trophy competition last year, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School has set its eyes on the prestigious under-18 title this year.
According to vice-principal Rajeshwan Prasad, their under-18 side has already begun preparations for the Deans competition and is looking to become the first Indian school in Fiji to win the trophy.
The side took the national high school rugby scene by storm after winning both the Fiji Secondary School Rugby League competition and the Deans’ competition in the under-17 grade.
“Our under-18 team this year is basically our under-17 side from last year that competed in the Fiji Secondary School Rugby League and Vodafone Deans Trophy competition for the first time,” Prasad said.
“After managing to win both the tournaments in the under-17 grade last year, we have set our eyes on the prestigious Deans Trophy next term.”
Prasad confirmed the side had already begun their off-season training during the school holidays last year and early this year.
“We have already begun our off-season training for our under-18 side,” he said.
“Our athletics and other teams in different grades have also begun preparations for upcoming high school sporting competitions this year.”
He said the dedication their under-18 side has shown on their off-season training for the past few weeks had been encouraging, as they look to etch their names on the history books of high school rugby in Fiji.
“They know what victory tastes like, so they have been working together in hard work and patience as they slowly work towards their goal.
“All we want to prove is that we too have what it takes to compete against other giant schools in high school rugby.”
Meanwhile, the side is set for a rugby tour to Japan at the end of the school term.
“Our side will be touring Japan which is a very good opportunity for them and they are all looking forward to it.”
The team created history last year after beating western giants Ba Provincial Freebird Institute 20-12 in the under-17 finals of the Fiji Secondary School Rugby League competition.
Just weeks later in the Vodafone Deans Trophy competition, they once again created history after beating RKS 16-15 in the under-17 finals, making them a major threat in this year’s competition.