The Suva Rugby Union is gearing up for an exciting weekend as Army Green prepares to face Fresh’et Navy in the first semi-final of the Escott Shield on Saturday. Meanwhile, the second semi-final will feature the Eastern Saints, led by Seremaia Bai, taking on SCB Police.
SRU secretary Nemani Tuifagalele confirmed the matchups yesterday, noting that the venue for the two games will be announced later. While Oceania has booked Buckhurst and Bidesi Park, the Laucala grounds are currently unavailable.
“We’ve secured the USP grounds but we are aiming to select the best venue for the semi-finals,” Tuifagalele remarked, emphasizing that it may take place at either the USP ground or Suva Grammar grounds.
Describing the matches as highly anticipated, he encouraged supporters to attend. “It will be an exciting game this weekend. I urge everyone to come and witness what promises to be a thrilling semi-final,” he added.
Although the venue has yet to be finalized, Tuifagalele highlighted the competitiveness of the season. “It’s too soon to make predictions as all four teams vying for the top spot are strong contenders.”
SCB Police, considered favorites, managed to advance after a tough encounter against Lomaiviti in last week’s quarter-finals. The team benefits from the experience of veteran Number 8 James Brown and Terio Tamani, a silver medalist from the Paris Olympics. “Police is not an easy opponent; they are the defending champions with a history of success in the Escott Shield,” Tuifagalele noted, recalling their narrow victory against Fresh’et Navy in last year’s final.
He also praised Lomaiviti for their impressive performance in the quarter-finals. “We’ve had the same number of teams for the past two years, but the intensity and quality of the competition have been improving each year. This is a testament to the effort and time invested in grassroots development, which is positively impacting club-level play.”