THE Junior Bati and Rise Rookies rugby league teams are preparing ahead of their international fixture against the Southwest Queensland Emus this Saturday.
Both teams, under the Fiji National Rugby League’s Academy, marched into camp on Sunday, and since then, extra steps in ensuring no stones are left unturned have been made.
Training sessions for the young teams have been in full swing every morning at Albert Park in Suva.
The teams will travel to Lautoka this Friday where they face the Emus at Churchill Park with free entry for everyone.
Both teams are part of the Fiji National Rugby League’s (FNRL) Academy and have displayed stellar performances in international fixtures held this year.
The Junior Bati faced the Tonga under-18 team in May, where they won 28-12.
Both sides met the Caloundra State High School boys and girls teams in October, where the Bati drew 14-all and the Rookies were beaten 4-24 in Lautoka.
As the teams prepare, their campaign will be boosted with the inclusion of three Rotuman players scouted during the FNRL development team’s tour of the island.
These players are Gordon William Samuela, Winnie’ofa Morita Tatino and Vamarasi Crizelmon Kafoa.
The matches, part of a Fiji cultural rugby league tour, are held in partnership with Petero Tours, which brings schools over to Fiji to play Test matches against teams from the FNRL Academy, to give them game exposure and valuable development opportunities.
The first match between the Rookies and the Emus get underway at 11am.
