Ba Methodist High School have become the first school in Ba to reach the semi-finals of a Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union competition with the U17s defeating a strong Gospel High 22-19 last weekend.
“We can’t be sure, but we don’t think any other school in Ba has made it this far before in the long history of the competition,” BRU Secretary Gaby Kautoga said. “Several have made the quarter-finals but not the last four.”
The Saints U17s face the might of RKS in today’s semi-final which kicks off at midday at HFC Bank Stadium.
Last year’s BMHS U16s reached the quarter-finals and have gone unbeaten this season with additional input from eight members of the Ba Rugby Academy.
“The school’s U15s also excelled this year and reached the FSSRU Quarterfinals,” Kautoga noted. “It’s a good sign that we have young players coming through the ranks.”
The BRU has made a big effort in the last 12 months to work more closely with the nine secondary schools in the district.
“In the past, things have been a bit disjointed,” Kautoga admitted. “Schools have tended to work in isolation.”
“Ba Rugby reached out to all the schools at the end of last year, provided the opportunities for the teachers to get their coaching certificates and offered our top resources coaches for those who wanted help.”
Kautoga noted that the response was mixed.
“Ba Methodist has worked with us hand-in-hand, and some of the others made use of the clinics and our coaching assistance.”
“But we suspect that many schools aren’t really aware of the level of coaching required to take up a team to the knockout stages. You can’t rely on talent alone.”
With the new regulations on double registration allowing players in the district to join another school once their team has been eliminated, six BMHS U18 players joined Ra High.
“Five of them started in last week’s historic victory over defending champions RKS,” Talatala Gaby said. “These are players who went through our U17s programme and trials last year.”
Ra High face Suva Grammar In today’s Dean’s Semifinals at Churchill Park as the main game after the Fijiana-Springbok Women’s Test match.
