“They either do or they die, they come out victorious or we go home crying.”
This was the profound message that drove the young under-17 team from Ratu Kadavulevu School to win 31-22 over Lelean Memorial School to clinch the Deans U17 trophy on Saturday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
The team from Delanakaikai bagged what was the school’s first Deans title of the year, followed by their U18 counterparts in the final against Nasinu Secondary School later in the evening.
Scenes of celebration and the sight of parents and students running from various parts of the stadium to hug the players for the win were on full display after the match.
Team manageress Mereseini Vadei said the victory was testament to the school’s proven ability to forge formidable ruggers.
“We trust that whatever we breed in Lodoni (RKS) will come out victorious,” Vadei said.
She shared that when asked how preparations had been for the team, relaying how the players trained on the school grounds throughout the entire Deans competition.
“During our preparation, it was the coaches, the managers and the assistant coach,” she explained.
“Our training was focused on our mental and spiritual. Before they move onto the ground for their actual body training, their focus was on the mental preparation of the boys and their spiritual.
“So when they came out to the ground, they were mentally prepared, physically prepared and also spiritually prepared.”
Heading onto the field for their final battle against their Davuilevu opponents also meant their physical and mental preparation needed to be on par.
“The message that was given to the boys is when they go there, they either do or they die,” she said.
“They come out victorious or we go home crying so that was the only message that the coaches gave out to these boys.”