The Hibiscus Festival is currently taking place, providing festival attendees with the opportunity to engage in the touch rugby competition that commenced yesterday at Albert Park in Suva.
Tevita Mau, president of the Touch Federation Fiji, announced that the two-day event will feature participation from at least eight secondary schools. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education for permitting schools to compete and shared plans to discuss incorporating the sport into the curriculum for term one of next year.
“Schools have always been a focal point for us, but we haven’t made significant progress in their development, so this serves as our starting point,” Mau explained.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the schools, their administrators, teachers, and volunteers for their dedication to encouraging the sport’s growth at the grassroots level.
“We are very appreciative of the efforts that deserve recognition because without them, we wouldn’t be able to progress toward our goals,” he stated.
Mau thanked the festival organizers for including the sport in the week’s festivities and encouraged the public to come out and support the schools showcasing their talents. He highlighted that some of the players may potentially represent Fiji in the upcoming 2028 Touch World Cup and the 2031 Pacific Games.
The competition will continue today at Albert Park starting at 10 a.m.
In preliminary results, John Wesley College defeated Queen Victoria School 4-1, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College won against Lami High School 6-1, MGM triumphed over QVS 4-1, and Suva Grammar School played to a draw with QVS.