The Suva Rugby Union Escott Shield semi-finals will take place on Saturday, featuring a matchup between Army Green and Fresh’et Navy in the first semi-final. The second semi-final will see the Eastern Saints, led by Seremaia Bai, face off against SCB Police.
SRU secretary Nemani Tuifagalele announced the semi-final fixtures yesterday, noting that the venue for the matches is yet to be confirmed. While Buckhurst and Bidesi Park have been reserved by Oceania and Laucala grounds are not available, the UPD grounds are being considered. Tuifagalele mentioned that they aim to secure the best grounds for the semi-finals, with the likely locations being either the USP ground or Suva Grammar grounds.
He expressed excitement for what is expected to be an exhilarating weekend of rugby, urging supporters to attend these highly anticipated matches. Tuifagalele added that the competition this season has been intense, making predictions difficult as all four competing teams are strong contenders.
SCB Police, last season’s champions, emerged victorious from a challenging quarter-final against Lomaiviti last week. With seasoned players like veteran Number 8 James Brown and Paris Olympics silver medallist Terio Tamani on their roster, Tuifagalele acknowledged the defending champions’ formidable reputation, having previously won the Escott Shield multiple times, including last year’s narrow 13-11 victory over Fresh’et Navy in the final.
Tuifagalele commended Lomaiviti for their impressive performance in the quarter-finals and highlighted the growth in competition quality over the past few years due to grassroots development efforts, emphasizing the positive impact at the club level.