Anticipation is high as the captains of the Ratu Kadavulevu School and Nasinu Secondary School Under-18 teams met this afternoon for their official photo shoot at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
Both captains looked focused and ready for what promises to be one of the most highly anticipated matches of the year.
Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union Vice-President Biu Colati says the buzz around the Deans finals is immense and can be felt throughout the country.
Biu says they have been getting non-stop calls as they try to prepare for the finals and with only a one-week turnaround, time hasn’t been on their side, but the hype is everywhere.
He noted that ticket sales have been moving quickly and fans have been seen around town buying merchandise and team T-shirts, signaling a strong turnout for tomorrow’s big matches.
When approached by fijivillage News, both RKS and Nasinu Secondary School management declined to comment, following a directive from their respective school heads.
Colati also highlighted the growing competitiveness of the tournament, noting that schools like Gospel High School and Ratu Latianara College have added a new dimension to the finals this year.
He says this just shows the level of development taking place in secondary school rugby and it is great to see more schools reaching this level.
He added that they are working closely with the games committee—made up of police officers and other stakeholders—to ensure the smooth and safe running of tomorrow’s event.
Nasinu has been trying for decades since 1988 to end their heartbreak of losing in the finals and they have reached the final five times.
RKS have won the trophy 22 times and drawn 5 times, RKS first won the trophy in 1961 and holds the record for the longest defense of the Deans Trophy from 1980 to 1985.
Looking at the other Deans finals, QVS will play Grammar in the U14 grade at 8am, MGM High will face Grammar in the U15 at 9.10am, Gospel to meet Grammar at 11.50, Lelean will meet RKS in the U17 at 1.10, Tailevu North College will play Nasinu Secondary in the U19 at 2.50pm.
In the Weet-Bix Raluve finals, Sigatoka Methodist College will take on Ratu Latianara College in the U16 grade at 10.40am while Jasper Williams High School will meet Natabua High School in the U18 at 4.20pm.
The finals will be held at the HFC Bank Stadium tomorrow.
You can catch the live commentaries on our sister station VITIFM and our fijivillage app for the U18 Raluve final between Natabua and Jasper, and the U18 Deans final between RKS and Nasinu Secondary at 5.30pm
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
