The Nabua Rugby Club has been the go-to team for school leavers who played in the secondary schools’ Deans competition.
Because of the training programs and conditioning the club carries out, it has helped a lot of upcoming players to be confident when playing against older opponents.
Manager Solomone Tabetebete said they had adopted a pathway drawn up by Nacanieli Saumi and had seen its impact on players wishing to join the club.
He said this was the same pathway plan Saumi used in 2019 when Ratu Kadavulevu School scooped all the trophies in the Deans competition.
“We aim to take in players as young as 17,” he said. “Our coaching panel train these players and condition them for bigger matches.
“We have a 17-year-old player, who is playing in Suva’s Koroturaga competition.
“These young players are not scared of their opponents, whether they are national reps or have been part of the Suva rugby competition for long.”
He said at the age of 20, their aim was for those players to knock on the selection door for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua, Fijian Warriors, or the Flying Fijians.
“We have seen its impact,” Tabetebete said. “Look at Jiuta Wainiqolo and Sireli Maqala, these two have been in the headlines in the French Top 14 competition.
“You have Taniela Sadrugu in the NRL. “Philip Baselala in the Drua, he has been the revelation of the club’s breeding process.”
He said a majority of the under-18 players used the club to prepare them for the Deans competition.
“Last year, the Suva Grammar School U18 players played seven of their Koroturaga games before the start of the Dean’s competition.
“Last year’s RKS pivot Lemeki Tora is playing for us, Mosese Masi, the younger brother of Fiian Drua centre Iosefo, they are ready to take on the big stage.”
Some Koroturaga results: Lami Cavliers 17-18 Vanuabalavu, Kadavu 22-23 USP, Suva Stallion 33-17 Taha, Habour Shark 7-Draunivau 22, Qauia 17-5 Central Brothers, Army Red 19-38 Fiji Bitter Savura.
