FORMER national selector and player Sailosi Naiteqe Sr believes this Saturday’s Vodafone Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union Deans quarter-finals will be a closely contested battle, with every team capable of causing an upset.
Naiteqe said the growth of school rugby in Fiji over the past decade has lifted the standard of competition, making it difficult to label any team as favourites heading into the knockout stages.
He pointed to the provincial rugby scene as an example of how teams can rise above expectations.
“Rugby has grown in Fiji over the last 10 years. If we look at the Skipper Cup competition, last year Malolo defied all odds to win the title, and this year we have seen teams like Kadavu and Navosa join the competition,” Naiteqe said.
“The same thing can happen in the schools Deans competition. School rugby has grown over the years and the level of competition has improved tremendously.”
Naiteqe also acknowledged the efforts of the Fiji Rugby Union in developing young talent through the Deans competition.
“FRU is doing a great job with schools rugby by identifying rugby talents through the four different zones — Northern, Western, Eastern and Southern zones,” he said.
With the quarterfinals set to kick off this weekend, Naiteqe believes the difference between victory and defeat will come down to mental strength.
“This Saturday, it will all come down to the mind game. Rugby is a mental game. The team that handles the pressure, stays focused and believes in themselves will have the advantage,” he said.
The Vodafone Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union Deans competition continues to serve as a pathway for young players aiming to progress to higher levels of rugby, including national age-grade teams and professional rugby opportunities.
