Ba Methodist High School’s under-17 Saints have one more hurdle before a shot at the Vodafone Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League final — a semi-final against RKS Eels at Churchill Park this Saturday, scheduled to kick off at 11:48am in the second semi-final of the day.
Head coach David Wise said the week’s preparations have been tightly focused on discipline, teamwork and execution of a clear game plan. “Ba Methodist High School is fully prepared and motivated as we head into the semi-finals,” Wise said, adding that the players had trained hard and were “ready for a tough challenge against RKS Eels.” Despite the stakes, Wise stressed the importance of remaining grounded, urging the squad to “keep a low profile going into the match.”
What makes this semi-final appearance notable is the broader programme now underpinning Ba Methodist rugby. The school has deepened its partnership with the Ba Rugby Union to establish a rugby academy on campus — an initiative designed to give promising players structured development pathways, higher-level coaching support and more consistent training standards. School and union officials expect the academy to lift skill levels and translate into stronger on-field performances across age groups.
Community backing has also emerged as a significant factor in the Saints’ build-up. Wise singled out parents, old scholars, teachers and members of the Nailaga community for ramping up support that has boosted team morale and provided much-needed encouragement as the players prepare for the Churchill Park showdown. That communal effort follows a pattern of growing investment in the school’s rugby programmes across multiple age brackets.
Ba Methodist’s rise this season mirrors other recent successes from the school’s teams. Earlier reports showed the school’s under-16 girls secured regional honours and the under-19 boys were tipped to be competitive in the Western zone, signalling depth in the school’s player pool and the potential early benefits of the academy model. The U17s now carry that momentum into a high-pressure fixture against RKS Eels, a team that will not be underestimated on semi-final day.
Saturday’s result will decide who progresses to the final, and Wise’s emphasis on discipline suggests Ba Methodist aims to control the contest through structure rather than flair alone. With the academy project taking root and community support swelling, the Saints will seek to prove their recent improvement is no coincidence when the teams run onto Churchill Park this weekend.
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