Rotuma High School is set to participate in the 2024 Crest Chicken Fiji Secondary School Netball Championship after a decade-long absence. Fiji Secondary School Netball President Navitalai Naivalu stated that RHS must first compete in the maritime rally for a chance to qualify for the national event, scheduled for August 21-23 at the National Netball Centre in Suva.
“There are no automatic qualifiers,” Naivalu explained. Schools like Adi Maopa from Lau, Koro, Gau, and Kadavu have confirmed their participation in the competition.
RHS manager Lorraine Wesley confirmed that the school will compete in the Under-17 division, fielding a team of 17 players. The community rallied together to raise the $7,000 needed to cover expenses for the annual netball tournament, organizing fundraising activities that included kava barrels at the Itumuta community hall.
Wesley is optimistic about their chances to secure friendly matches against Kalabu Secondary and Gospel High schools before the Maritime rally on August 19 at the NNC in Suva. “Our principal has been in contact with the two schools, but we haven’t received confirmation yet as we just arrived,” she said.
All players in the Under-17 team are in Year 11, and Wesley acknowledged that they will be entering the competition as underdogs. “We have a lot to learn, and it’s going to be a learning experience for the girls,” she added. She expressed that while they have hopes for their performance, it will ultimately depend on the girls’ confidence and exposure, marking their first time playing in front of other schools.
“The rally will serve as a great opportunity for the players to build their confidence and assess their competitiveness. We plan to take it one step at a time, and who knows, perhaps one or two of them will represent Fiji in netball in the future,” she said.
Wesley also encouraged RHS alumni to come out in large numbers to support the girls during the tournament.