The Suva Rugby Union’s Escott Shield semi-finals are set for Saturday, featuring a match between Army Green and Fresh’et Navy in the first fixture. The second semi-final will see the Eastern Saints, led by Seremaia Bai, go up against SCB Police.
SRU secretary Nemani Tuifagalele confirmed the match-ups and mentioned that the venues would be finalized soon. Buckhurst and Bidesi Park are currently reserved for Oceania events, and the Laucala grounds are unavailable.
“We have booked the USP grounds but are looking for the best facilities to host the semi-finals,” Tuifagalele stated. He noted that the matches could potentially be held at either the USP grounds or Suva Grammar grounds. “This weekend’s games are expected to be thrilling,” he added, urging fans to attend what he described as the most anticipated semi-final yet.
Tuifagalele acknowledged the competitive nature of the season, remarking that predicting the outcome is difficult with four strong teams vying for the title. SCB Police, the current favorites, recently triumphed over Lomaiviti in a challenging quarter-final. They boast experienced players like veteran Number 8 James Brown and Paris Olympics silver medalist Terio Tamani.
“Police is a tough opponent, being the defending champions and seasoned in the Escott Shield,” Tuifagalele noted, recalling that they narrowly defeated Fresh’et Navy 13-11 in last year’s final.
He also praised Lomaiviti for their impressive performance against the champions. “While the number of teams has remained the same over the past two years, the intensity and quality of competition have improved significantly,” he remarked. “This growth reflects the dedication to grassroots development, which is yielding positive results at the club level.”