Suva rugby head coach Solo Nute is relying on Police Blue to successfully defend the Suva Rugby Union’s Escott Shield against Navy in the grand final scheduled for Saturday, September 21.
“I’m with the Police team and I hope they do well against Navy,” Nute expressed.
He noted that the final is crucial for preparation since there are no other competitions like the Skipper Cup at this time, which allows the team to focus entirely on the Escott Shield.
Nute emphasized 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 stated.
With the Hibiscus Festival now concluded, Nute has called on Suva supporters to turn out in large numbers to back their teams in the grand final.
Looking ahead, Nute mentioned that Suva will commence its pre-season training in January next year.
“We just have to wait for the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) calendar of events and adjust our plans accordingly,” he explained.
He also noted that some players are emerging from the FRU High Performance Unit and the Suva setup.
Nute remains optimistic about recruiting several Fiji Under-20 players for his squad.
“Our goal is to blend experienced and young players together to strengthen our player pool before selecting the team for the next Skipper Cup,” he added.