The first semi-final of the Suva Rugby Union Escott Shield is set for Saturday, featuring a showdown between Army Green and Fresh’et Navy. The second semi-final will see the Eastern Saints, led by Seremaia Bai, go head-to-head with SCB Police.
SRU secretary Nemani Tuifagalele confirmed the matchups, noting that the venues are still to be finalized. While Buckhurst and Bidesi Park have been reserved by Oceania, the Laucala grounds are currently off the table. “We’ve reserved the USP grounds, but we are working to secure the best location for the semi-finals,” Tuifagalele stated, adding that the matches are likely to take place at either the USP or Suva Grammar grounds.
He described the upcoming games as highly anticipated, urging supporters to attend what promises to be an exciting day of rugby: “This is set to be one of the most thrilling semi-finals we’ve ever seen. The competition has been intense this year, and it’s too early to make any predictions, as all four teams are formidable.”
SCB Police, the favorites, managed to edge out Lomaiviti in a challenging quarter-final last week. With seasoned players like veteran Number 8 James Brown and Paris Olympics silver medallist Terio Tamani, Police are a formidable opponent. Tuifagalele acknowledged their reputation: “They are the defending champions and have a strong history with the Escott Shield, having won it multiple times.”
Last year, Police narrowly triumphed over Fresh’et Navy with a score of 13-11 in a closely contested final at Buckhurst Park. Tuifagalele commended Lomaiviti for their impressive performance in the quarter-finals, highlighting the overall improvement in the competition’s quality and intensity: “We’ve had the same number of teams for the past two years, but the level of competition has been rising each year, reflecting our efforts in grassroots development.”