All semifinal losers from the Southern Zone Secondary School Rugby Union (SZSSRU) Vodafone Deans competition will now compete for third place.
Zone president Rusiate Wadali stated that the losing teams from the under-15 to 19 grades will meet this weekend to decide who takes third place in the zone.
However, securing third place does not ensure a spot in the nationals as they must go through another playoff stage.
“The two teams that advanced from the semifinals will face off in the Southern Zone final to determine the first and second rankings for nationals.
“The semifinal losers will compete for third place. The winner will travel to Vanua Levu the week after the finals to face the second-placed team from the North,” Wadali explained.
If a Southern team loses in the North during the playoffs scheduled for the week after next, it will be the end of their journey.
“The grades heading to the North are from under-15 to 19—all our third-place winners will clash with the second-best team from all five grades in the North. The winner from that match will proceed to the nationals; if a team from the North wins, they will represent the North in the national quarterfinals,” Wadali added.
The finals of the SZSSRU Vodafone Deans and Weetbix Raluve will be held this weekend at Buckhurst and Bidesi Parks in Laucala Bay, Suva.