Nasinu Secondary School is set to compete in the Under-18 grand-final of the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union Vodafone Super Deans for the first time in 12 years. Their last appearance in the final was in 2012 when they lost to Queen Victoria School with a score of 31-21.
Over the years, Nasinu has only managed to reach the national quarter-finals, but the current team has ended this 12-year absence, marking a new era for the school’s rugby program. They will face Queen Victoria School once again, with high hopes for the Matavatucou side to continue their legacy in the Deans competition.
Nasinu comes into the final as favorites after a convincing 33-20 victory over Cuvu College in the semi-finals last weekend. They are eager to etch their name in the history of FSSRU’s Deans champions. Head coach Mika Yasiyasi remarked on the team’s preparation, stating, “After the semi-finals, we went back to the drawing board and worked on our weaknesses. Cuvu really gave us a tough match and I thank them because they showed us what we need to improve on against our next opponent.”
Yasiyasi mentioned that the team’s approach to the final will remain consistent, prioritizing focus and precision. “We need to master our strength and work on our set-piece. We do not have the size, and that is an area that we work on when preparing for a game,” he noted, emphasizing the need to maintain fitness as they prepare for this crucial match.
Support for both teams is expected to be strong, with families, friends, and fans donning their traditional blue colors at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday. Only one of these blue-clad groups will celebrate victory when the final whistle blows.