Suva rugby head coach Solo Nute is confident in Police Blue’s ability to defend the Suva Rugby Union’s Escott Shield against Navy in the grand final scheduled for Saturday, September 21.
“I’m with the Police team and I hope they do well against Navy,” Nute expressed. He added that the final is crucial for preparation given the absence of other competitions like the Skipper Cup, shifting the focus entirely to the Escott Shield.
Nute emphasized that the Police players must enhance their fitness levels and improve their scrum control. “They will need to prioritize game management to create more scoring opportunities,” he noted.
With the Hibiscus Festival concluded, he called on Suva supporters to turn out in large numbers to support their teams in the final. Looking ahead, Nute mentioned that the Suva team is set to begin pre-season training in January next year.
“We just have to see the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) calendar of events and adjust accordingly,” he commented. Nute also highlighted the potential for new talent emerging from the FRU High Performance Unit as well as the Suva setup.
He is hopeful of integrating a few players from the Fiji Under-20 team into his squad. “We aim to blend experienced and young players to strengthen our depth before selecting the team for the next Skipper Cup,” he concluded.