The first semi-final of the Suva Rugby Union Escott Shield will feature Army Green facing off against Fresh’et Navy this Saturday. In the second semi-final, the Eastern Saints, led by Seremaia Bai, will take on SCB Police.
SRU secretary Nemani Tuifagalele confirmed the matches yesterday, noting that the venue for both games is yet to be finalized. Buckhurst and Bidesi Park have been reserved by Oceania, while the Laucala grounds are also unavailable.
“We’ve booked the USP grounds but are striving to secure the best location for the semi-finals,” Tuifagalele mentioned. “Currently, it will likely be either at the USP ground or Suva Grammar grounds.”
He emphasized that fans should prepare for an exciting weekend showdown, calling on supporters to attend what has been described as the most anticipated semi-final to date. “Although the venue is not yet confirmed, we can attest that this season’s competition has been fiercely competitive. It’s challenging to make predictions as all four teams contend for the top spot,” he added.
SCB Police, seen as favorites, recently overcame a challenging match against Lomaiviti in the second quarter-final last week. The team boasts the talents of experienced Number 8 James Brown and Terio Tamani, a silver medalist from the Paris Olympics.
“Police is a formidable opponent; they are the defending champions and well-versed in the Escott Shield, having won it multiple times,” Tuifagalele remarked. Last year’s finals saw Police narrowly edge out Fresh’et Navy 13-11 in a closely contested battle at Buckhurst Park, Suva.
Tuifagalele acknowledged Lomaiviti’s strong performance in the quarter-finals, noting, “While the same number of teams has participated for the last two years, the intensity and quality of the competition have improved annually. This reflects the dedication to grassroots development, which is yielding positive results at the club level.”