What’s next for the SportsWorld Fijian under-20 is a question on everyone’s mind when it comes to discussions of pathways.
Fresh off secondary school level, most of these players go through the high-performance unit and then into the national setting through the U20s program.
Competitions overseas are only limited to those who are contracted while others get game time through their various local clubs whether it be sevens or 15s rugby.
The difference is vast when compared to the U20s of international teams who are bigger not only in resources but in size and physique as well.
Fiji Rugby Union acting chief executive Koli Sewabu said a review of the tournament is due after the Oceania Rugby U20s Challenge.
“It is an important part of our program, the transition just from schools and then a very important pathway to our elite teams as well.
“We will sit down with everyone and start to look at what the future is like for that program. If you compare our U20s in terms of size and physicality to the Six Nations, we have a lot of gaps and that is something that we understand when we go to play these bigger nations, we need to really develop our players well so that they can go and compete,” he said.
There may be a prospect for an international U20s competition soon to come but its future remains bleak at the moment.
“There have been some funding cuts from World Rugby with regards to the 2020 World Trophy. We were at Junior World Championship; we got demoted to the Junior World tournament. There is a new tournament that has been planned for next year, we are yet to hear confirmations of that,” Sewabu added.
Sewabu also commended the current form of the Fijian U20 competing in the Oceania Rugby Challenge.
“They are doing really well at the moment. The preparations have been great; they are being mentored by two great coaches in Senirusi Seruvakula and Saiasi Fuli and they have got a good management on board as well.”
Fiji will face Samoa in round three tomorrow at 4pm at Prince Charles Park in Nadi.
