Gospel High School’s under-15 boys and girls received hands-on coaching from members of the Kaiviti Silktails on Thursday as the school steps up preparations for the 2026 Vodafone Deans Trophy, which begins next month. The Catch-Pass clinic concentrated on the core skills of passing and catching — fundamentals coaches say are critical as young players transition to the intensity of Deans competition.
Gospel’s boys’ side arrives at the Deans buoyed by a breakthrough season in rugby league, where they reached this year’s Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League final and “created history,” according to the school. Head coach Isimeli Koroi said the timing of the Silktails visit could not have been better for his squad and the girls’ side as both groups sharpen their basics ahead of the national schools tournament.
“We’re thankful to be part of this program, and have national reps and the head coach for the Silktails teach our players the basics of rugby,” Koroi said. “We are setting high standards for the Deans, and this program will really help our players understand the basic skills of rugby.” His remarks highlighted the value Gospel places on technical foundations rather than last-minute tactical fixes.
The one-day Catch-Pass clinic focused squarely on technique: hand placement, body alignment, footwork and the timing needed to execute secure passes and cleanly catch under pressure. Coaches from the Silktails worked directly with under-15 groups, offering drills that can be repeated in school sessions and adapted as players move into higher-intensity school fixtures next month.
For Gospel, the clinic forms part of a broader push to translate the momentum from their league campaign into success in the Deans Trophy. The Deans is widely regarded as one of Fiji’s most prestigious secondary school competitions, and teams frequently invest in preseason programmes, specialist coaching and community support to lift standards. Gospel’s decision to invite outside expertise underlines the ambition of the school’s programme and its desire to sustain progress across both boys’ and girls’ rugby.
The Silktails’ involvement also represents a bridge between club and school pathways, offering young players exposure to higher-level training methods and role models from the national setup. For under-15 athletes in particular, coaches say mastering passing and catching now reduces basic errors in match situations and creates space for more advanced tactical coaching as the tournament approaches.
With the Deans Trophy kicking off next month, Gospel High will aim to carry the confidence and improved fundamentals from Thursday’s clinic into its preseason fixtures. Coach Koroi and his players will no doubt be watching the calendar closely as they finalise preparations and set out to match — or better — the progress they achieved in this year’s league competition.