“One of the things that I think the audience in Fiji should start to learn is to respect the hard work that has been put in by schools.”
This is the message from Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union vice-president Biu Colati, in response to widespread public criticism of wins and losses recorded in the Deans semi-finals last weekend.
Colati was asked by Times Sports on his thoughts regarding comments made on social media following the Deans semi-finals, some of which were directed towards players, match officials and schools and others exchanged in varying degrees of banter.
“Sometimes, and we are looking at the results now, we are seeing even schools that were never known to reach this stage, are now coming in,” Colati explained.
He highlighted schools such as Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School in the under-15 grade and Gospel High School as examples of this and a testament to the development taking place around the game.
“And when more developments will happen, more new schools will come into the picture, that is all because of development.
“Now you see very highly qualified coaches coaching schools and that is already changing the scenario, and these are the things that people need to understand first before they comment.”
He stressed how the basic rules of a team’s highest scores making them winners remained firm regardless of whether they were new or small since “rugby is rugby”.
“I think the teams that have qualified, they have actually earned their spot there and the good thing is that 2026 is another season where these critics can put their thoughts together.”
With a firm emphasis on the results recorded and teams qualified, he stressed on how the hard work and achievements of teams needed to be commended.
Meanwhile, seasoned rugby coach Saiasi Fuli had shared similar sentiments on social media, calling for supporters and old scholars to not use school rivalries as a benchmark on which pressure needed to be applied to students.
The Deans and Raluve finals take place this Saturday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.