Ratu Kadavulevu School Under-18 rugby captain Esira Batisoso believes his team is well-prepared for another challenging Vodafone Deans season following valuable international exposure in Japan earlier this year.
Batisoso says the experience gained at the Sanix Tournament in Japan had significantly enhanced the team's development.
The Nalotawa, Yawe, Kadavu player says that competing against high-quality opposition exposed the team to a higher level of pace and intensity, helping them better understand the demands of top-level school rugby.
Despite leading the defending champions, Batisoso acknowledged that retaining the title will be a difficult task.
He says he has confidence in this team, but they know defending the Deans Trophy will not be easy.
Batisoso says they cannot afford to take any team lightly because the competition will be tough throughout the season.
Batisoso is leading RKS in their 2026 Vodafone Deans Trophy title defence campaign after the side opened their season in a dominant 46-3 victory over Sila Central High School.
The young captain remains optimistic they will pursue back-to-back Deans titles.
In the Eastern division games on Saturday, RKS will face Queen Victoria School in their second pool match while Lelean Memorial School will take on Saint John's Cawaci in the other pool match.
Sila Central College is on a bye this week.
