National Under-20 head coach Senirusi Seruvakula is set to announce his final squad of 30 players during the last week of January. The team is gearing up for two important tournaments in New Zealand, scheduled for March: the Oceania competition and the Super U20 event.
Seruvakula noted that most of the players selected for the extended squad came from last year’s Vodafone Deans trophy competition. He also emphasized the strong interest from overseas-based players, some of whom have been training with the squad.
“These two tournaments are the key focus of this team,” Seruvakula stated. The national U20 team will compete in the Oceania tournament and then represent the Drua U20 in the Super Rugby U20 competition.
The Oceania tournament will feature teams from Tonga, Samoa, and Moana Pasifika. The team plans to depart in the last week of February; after the Oceania event in early March, they will take a brief rest before heading into the Super U20 competition, which will last about a week and a half.
Additionally, Seruvakula and his coaching staff will conduct open trials in Duva, Sigatoka, and Nadi on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, respectively.
This approach reflects a proactive effort to harness local talent and integrate international players, reinforcing the team’s competitiveness on the international stage. With thorough preparation and strategic focus, the national Under-20 squad is looking forward to showcasing their potential in the upcoming tournaments.
By bringing together local and overseas talent, there’s an exciting opportunity for the team to build a stronger presence and foster unity in representation, which is promising for the future of rugby in the region.
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