Rugby has seen significant growth over the years, particularly in school competitions, according to former Fiji 7s and Flying Fijians player Sireli Bobo. After attending the quarter-finals of the Weet-Bix Raluve and Vodafone Super Deans at the HFC Bank Stadium last weekend, Bobo expressed his admiration for the sport’s development.
“I’ve been following the Deans and Raluve competitions, and rugby has really grown compared to years ago,” he stated. The involvement of northern schools highlights the vast talent pool present in Fiji.
Bobo acknowledged the efforts of teachers in promoting rugby and noted the participation of schools from outside the traditional rugby strongholds. “We’ve seen major work done by teachers for the sport. Rugby has really improved, and just watching the U14 and U15 matches on Saturday, I was really impressed.” He also highlighted the impact of the High-Performance Unit (HPU) program on players from Suva and the Western schools.
Having previously coached the Fiji 7s team to a gold medal at the 2023 Pacific Games, Bobo named Marist Brothers High School as a strong contender in the U14 category. “My top bet is Marist Brothers High School. They dominated their quarter-final match, and I’ve been following their games this season. However, that doesn’t mean I’m writing off other schools; anything can happen at the knockout stages. Every team will come prepared, but in the end, it will come down to their mental and physical readiness.”
Bobo emphasized the crucial role that high-performance training plays for players involved in Fiji Rugby’s HPU program.