The Vodafone Super Deans competition concluded last Saturday at the HFC Bank Stadium, marking yet another significant chapter in the history of the Fiji Secondary Schools rugby meets. Biu Colati, the vice-president of the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union, expressed the impact of the event, highlighting how certain teams have established their own milestones.
Colati noted that with the competition aging another year, notable performances were recorded, particularly by Ratu Kadavulevu School, which triumphed in the under-14 grade with a score of 22-8 against Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School. In the under-19 category, Lami High School secured a narrow victory of 20-19 against Queen Victoria School.
He emphasized that rankings from various zones should not overshadow the achievements of schools that may not have performed well earlier but excelled at the national level. He mentioned Lelean Memorial School’s journey in the under-16 grade, where they made it to the finals against Suva Grammar School, winning 29-12.
Colati pointed out that rankings are not everything, as teams like Lelean have demonstrated resilience by reaching the final despite their third-place finish at zonal levels.
Other schools also made notable advances this year. In the under-14 final, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School faced Ratu Kadavulevu School after overcoming QVS and Lelean in earlier rounds. Lami High School made a stunning debut by defeating the favorites, QVS, in the under-19 final, cheered on by a passionate crowd.
Adi Cakobau School made its first-ever appearance in the U18 final of the Weet-Bix Raluve Trophy, while Niusawa Methodist High School from Taveuni reached the under-16 finals for the first time, becoming the only school from the northern region to do so. Niusawa faced 2022 champions Natabua High School in a close match, ending with a score of 20-15 in favor of Natabua.
Colati highlighted these accomplishments as positive takeaways for all teams involved. The Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union looks forward to an exciting upcoming season with more schools vying for the prestigious Deans trophy.