Rugby has seen significant growth over the years, particularly reflected in the performance of teams in school competitions. This was the observation of former Fiji 7s and Flying Fijians player Sireli Bobo after attending the quarter-finals of the Weet-Bix Raluve and Vodafone Super Deans tournaments.
Bobo visited the HFC Bank Stadium last Friday and Saturday to assess the players’ performances and was pleased with the sport’s development. “I’ve been following the Deans and Raluve competitions, and rugby has really grown compared to years ago,” he remarked.
The inclusion of schools from the northern regions indicates the potential talent pool that remains untapped in Fiji. Bobo acknowledged the efforts of teachers in promoting the sport and noted the participation of more schools in national competitions as a positive sign. “We’ve seen major work done by teachers for the sport, and we’ve seen how outside schools are coming into the nationals, which is good. Rugby has really improved, and after watching the U14 and U15 matches on Saturday, I was truly impressed.”
He pointed out that some players from Suva and Western schools are currently involved in Fiji Rugby’s High-Performance Unit (HPU) program, which has significantly impacted their gameplay.
As a coach who led the Fiji 7s team to a gold medal at the 2023 Pacific Games, Bobo also shared his favorites in the competitions. “In the U14, my top pick is Marist Brothers High School. They not only dominated their quarter-final match but have consistently performed well this season. However, I can’t count out other schools; anything can happen in knockout stages. Every team will come prepared, but ultimately it will depend on how they show up mentally and physically.”
Bobo highlighted the significant influence of high-performance training on the players who are part of Fiji Rugby’s HPU, emphasizing the impact this has on their performance.