Secondary schools rugby league in Fiji is getting more bytes or following on the internet, says Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League association secretary Lai Corerega.
The huge following has seen the fan base for the FSSRL Vodafone Trophy soar to an unbelievable new height in the past two months.
“The Vodafone Trophy social media audience has reached 171,000,” he said.
He said the improvement in the sport and the inclusion of more schools, coupled with support from family members and friends of children playing, contributed to the rise in fans’ numbers.
“At the beginning of May, our hits were at 57,000. More and more people are going through our Facebook pages and other social media sites to get the latest information on the secondary schools competition.
“Most of the hits are from Fiji followed by Fijians living overseas. We are excited in the increase in number of fans because it shows that the sport is developing and making a change in the local scene.”
One of the contributing factors, he said, was the success of women in Fijian sports.
“More and more girls are coming into the sport. Some from rugby and other sports.
“This has increased the number of women and girls playing rugby league and one of the contributing factors is the success of the Fijiana rugby teams in rugby union.
“We have sprinters who represented Fiji in athletics coming to rugby league, some from rugby union, and some from other sports. It is a good picture because women’s rugby league is growing as part of FNRL’s bid to have inclusivity in the sport.”
Meanwhile, the FSSRL Vodacome Trophy Grand Finals return to Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori on Saturday.
Draws: 9am: Under-15 – QVS Knights v Nasinu Panthers, 10.25am: Women’s Origin: South Eastern Zone School Girls v Western Zone Schools Girls, 11.35am: U17 – QVS Knights v Marist Storm, 1pm: U19 – Vanua Levu Secondary Schools Boys U19 Selection v South Eastern Schools Boys U19 Selection, 3pm: U19 – QVS Knights v Ba Pro Dragons.
