Suva rugby head coach Solo Nute is optimistic about Police Blue’s chances of defending the Suva Rugby Union’s Escott Shield against Navy in the grand final scheduled for Saturday, September 21.
Nute expressed his confidence in the Police team, stating, “I’m with the Police team and I hope they do well against Navy.” He emphasized the significance of this final, highlighting that it’s a crucial preparation opportunity since there are no other competitions at the moment like the Skipper Cup, making their focus solely on the Escott Shield.
He also pointed out that the Police players need to enhance their fitness levels and manage their scrums effectively. “They will need to prioritize game management to create more scoring opportunities,” he added.
With the Hibiscus Festival now concluded, Nute encouraged Suva supporters to turn out in large numbers to support their teams during the grand final. Looking ahead, he announced that the Suva team will commence pre-season training in January of next year.
“We will review the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) calendar of events and adjust our plans accordingly,” he said, noting the arrival of some players from the FRU High Performance Unit joining the Suva setup.
Nute is hopeful about recruiting several Fiji Under-20 players into his squad, aiming to blend experience with youth to strengthen the depth of the player pool as they prepare for the upcoming Skipper Cup.