It is interesting that the Fiji Rugby Union plans to start an under-19 competition at provincial level.
This, Fiji Rugby Union development manager Koli Sewabu believes, will allow a smooth transition of Fiji Secondary Schools Deans Trophy competition players to the under-20 level.
The former Flying Fijians backrower believes the development could prevent the loss of talent after the Deans competition.
The FRU, he said, would introduce the under-19 competition next year to replace the U20 provincial competition.
One of the reasons we have the U20 to the U19 grades at provincial level, he said, “is to ensure the transition gap from high school to U20 is a smoother one”.
“In the past number of years we have noticed that for most high school students the climax of their rugby is geared towards the Deans.
“Also quite a number of talents were lost in between the Deans and the U20 level, so creating a provincial U19 championship will ensure that we cater for the depth at Deans level,” he said.
“Also we are now in the Junior World Championship for the U20 players that gives the coaching panel the time to work on.”
What Sewabu has revealed will no doubt be endorsed by many rugby enthusiasts.
Our recent 21-14 victory over France at the Stade de France last month has ignited enthusiasm in our game.
The Flying Fijians are on a high right now following the demolition of a French team that had just beaten Argentina 28-13 a week earlier.
That win, anchored by a very strong scrum, has lifted our image on the international rugby scene.
Our platform upfront was stable.
Our pack held its own against the French scrum, our attacking lines were better co-ordinated, and our defensive shape stood up to the French onslaught late in the game.
We maintained composure right to the end, lifting our game in the last quarter.
We believed in ourselves, and carried that forward to victory.
The challenge now is for the powers that be to chart a path forward for our rugby.
That means such plans as the development of schoolboy rugby should be encouraged.
We have a very strong base at the Deans Trophy competition level.
It is how we keep our talented schoolboys at home, and interested in the game that will matter for the Flying Fijians. Go Fiji, go.
