Nasinu Secondary School is experiencing a significant turnaround as its under-18 rugby team ended an 11-year absence from the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union Vodafone Super Deans competition final.
The team last reached the grand final in 2012 and had not progressed past the quarter-finals since then. However, this changed last Saturday when they overcame a tough challenge from Tailevu North College, securing a place in the semi-finals.
Head coach Mika Yasiyasi expressed optimism, stating, “A new sun is rising for Nasinu.” Nasinu is the sole representative from the Southern Zone in the under-18 semi-finals.
Yasiyasi highlighted the team’s goal to rewrite their narrative, saying, “Previously, our target was just to reach the quarter-finals, but we are now aiming higher.” He noted that breaking the quarter-final barrier from last week marked a significant achievement for the school.
The upcoming match poses a considerable challenge as they face Cuvu College, a team with a successful history at this level, having reached the finals in 2018. Yasiyasi stressed the importance of maintaining performance throughout the entire match, emphasizing, “We need to play 70-minute rugby.”
He acknowledged that Tailevu North had presented stiff competition in the quarter-finals, and improvements are necessary for the semi-finals. The team has been concentrating on fitness, conditioning, and enhancing communication to manage the game more effectively.
The semi-finals will take place today, with Nasinu facing Cuvu College at 3:25 PM at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, followed by the second semi-final between Ratu Navula College and Queen Victoria School at 5 PM.