After the finals of the Vodafone Super Deans competition held at the HFC Bank Stadium last Saturday, the participating teams made a significant impression in the history of Fiji Secondary Schools rugby. Biu Colati, the vice-president of the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union, expressed his pride, noting that various teams set their own unique milestones throughout the tournament.
Colati highlighted the achievements of several schools, mentioning Ratu Kadavulevu School’s victory in the under-14 category, where they triumphed over Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School with a score of 22-8. Additionally, Lami High School edged past Queen Victoria School in a close under-19 final, winning 20-19.
He remarked that traditional school rankings from different zones were not major factors in assessing performance, pointing out that schools like Lelean Memorial School showcased remarkable abilities at the national level despite not having strong performances in previous matches. Lelean reached the under-16 final, ultimately losing to Suva Grammar School with a score of 29-12 but demonstrating great resilience throughout the tournament.
Colati also referenced schools achieving notable milestones this year. In the under-14 finals, MGM High School made it to the final against Ratu Kadavulevu School after defeating both Queen Victoria School and Lelean Memorial School in earlier rounds. In the under-19 finals, Lami High School, making their tournament debut, surprised favorites Queen Victoria School in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Other highlights included Adi Cakobau School’s first appearance in the Weet-Bix Raluve Trophy under-18 final, and Niusawa Methodist High School from Taveuni reaching the under-16 finals for the first time ever. Niusawa was notably the only northern school to reach the finals, where they faced the 2022 champions, Natabua High School, narrowly losing 20-15.
Colati emphasized the positive takeaways from this year’s season, encouraging every school and team to strive for excellence. The Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union looks forward to a thrilling season ahead with more teams competing for the prestigious Deans trophy.