Gospel High School’s U15 rugby league side, the Gospel Saints, will make school history this Saturday when they contest their first-ever Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League final at the 4R Stadium, Govind Park in Ba. Team manager Agnes Wye said the appearance in the decider against the Nasinu Panthers is a milestone for the entire Gospel High community and underlined the pride felt by staff, parents and supporters who have backed the youngsters throughout the season.
“The whole school is buzzing. This is a milestone achievement for us,” Wye said, praising the way the team has progressed through the competition. The Saints advanced from the quarterfinals and impressed with consistent performances to earn their spot in the final, a run that has generated strong support at school and beyond, with supporters expected to travel in numbers to Ba on match day.
Preparations for the final have been intensive. Wye confirmed the squad has been training daily and will head into camp later this week as they fine-tune combinations and match readiness ahead of the showdown. Despite the pressure of a first final, the manager said the players remained composed and focused on the task ahead.
There is a minor injury concern: the team captain has picked up a slight knock, but Wye said the injury is not expected to derail the Saints’ challenge. “There is a lot of excitement, but we know this will be a tough match,” she added, stressing that the squad remains largely fit and ready for Saturday’s clash.
Wye also highlighted the role of unity in the team’s rise. “We cannot work alone. Teamwork is our strength,” she said, pointing to strong cohesion among players, coaching staff and the wider school community as the backbone of the Saints’ campaign. That collective effort, she believes, has been central to Gospel High’s progression to the final and could help deliver a landmark victory.
Across the pitch the Saints will meet the Nasinu Panthers, who secured their place in the decider after navigating the knockout rounds. While the Nasinu side have proven formidable opponents this season, Gospel High enter the final buoyed by momentum, a disciplined training program and the emotional lift of representing their school on one of the competition’s biggest stages.
Saturday’s final at Govind Park offers Gospel High not only a shot at silverware but also an opportunity to lay down a marker for the school’s sporting future. For a squad stepping into a national final for the first time, the result will be less about a single match and more about the legacy and belief it could instill across the Gospel High community.