Marist Brothers High School Under-17 center, Lepani Bavai, has caught the attention of international scouts during the Vodafone Deans Trophy national finals. Last Saturday, Bavai was approached by three scouts after his team secured a narrow win against Queen Victoria School, finishing 17-15 in the semi-finals. They are now set to compete against two-time champions Ratu Kadavulevu School in this weekend’s U17 final.
In an interview with SUNsports, Bavai shared that he has decided to put the offers from scouts on hold. “I want to play rugby league,” he stated. He expressed gratitude towards his parents for their unwavering support throughout his journey, acknowledging them as his biggest fans.
Reflecting on the challenging semi-final match against QVS, Bavai appreciated his teammates for maintaining their composure under pressure. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent my school, and I look forward to another week of playing as we have reached the final,” he added.
MBHS U17 head coach Jonetani Rika mentioned that they will approach the final as underdogs. “We still have a lot to do. Last weekend’s game was too tight and close. We will need to work on our mistakes, especially against Ratu Kadavulevu School,” he said. Rika noted that RKS is a highly respected team in secondary schools rugby, having won the U17 championship twice, and emphasized the need for his team to elevate their performance.
“While we will be the underdogs, it will be a David and Goliath battle, but we are here to prove ourselves,” Rika remarked. When questioned about potential plans if they win the U17 final and travel to Japan next year, he emphasized the importance of focusing on the immediate task: “Right now, we have a job to do this weekend against RKS. It will be a tough battle, and the boys are aware of that. We haven’t planned ahead because we want the students to continue their education after Deans and excel academically.”
Bavai, originally from Makadru, Matuku in Lau, recognized that the competition level in the Deans Trophy has significantly improved since last year, with unexpected teams causing upsets.