National Under-20 head coach Senirusi Seruvakula is set to announce his final 30-member squad in the last week of January as preparations ramp up for two important tournaments in New Zealand this March: the Oceania and Super U20 tournaments.
Seruvakula has indicated that most of the players for the extended squad were selected from last year’s Vodafone Deans trophy competition. There has also been notable interest from overseas-based players, with a few already participating in training sessions with the team.
“The focus for us will be on these two tournaments,” Seruvakula stated, emphasizing the importance of representing Fiji in the Oceania tournament and later as the Drua U20 team in the Super Rugby U20 competition. He mentioned that Fiji will compete against teams from Tonga, Samoa, and Moana Pasifika in the Oceania championship.
Travel to New Zealand is scheduled for the last week of February, followed by the Oceania tournament in the first week of March. After a brief rest period, the team will then participate in the Super U20 competition, which will last approximately a week and a half.
Additionally, Seruvakula and his coaching staff will host open trials in several locations: Duva, Sigatoka, and Nadi, on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, respectively.
This initiative not only highlights the team’s commitment to selecting the best players, but it also reflects the growing interest and investments in youth rugby, setting a hopeful tone for the future of the sport in the region. The engagement of overseas players signifies a collaborative effort to elevate the level of competition and representation in international rugby.
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