Fiji Rugby

// 2023 Deans Semifinals were SENSATIONAL //

Marist and Grammar U18 are out! Both the 2022 finalists were taken out in dramatic fashion.

Natabua U18 against Marist were cool as ice under pressure, and their forwards were fiery giant-killers with onslaught attacks. They scored first and although there was tit-for-tat scoring, Marist never took the lead. Natabua's small support group on the concrete stand were at at stage bathed in the setting sun tasting sweet victory. I believe this will be the 1st time EVER for Natabua to appear in the Deans Finals next week. The flags of 1,000+ Marist supporters were hardly flying and the Marist corner was eerily quiet.

QVS U18 must have brought a smile to Alifereti Cawanibuka, life member of Fiji Secondary School Rugby Union- FSSRU. They scored an emphatic and critical first try and absolutely dominated the 1st half. Grammar inched upwards with easy penalties, and their #12 brought in so many lineouts. In a final move, they scored a superb corner line try on full time to make it 14 - 14, but the hundreds of Grammar supporters were left broken hearted with the missed conversion giving the QVS Blues the technical 1st try win.

In the first U17 Semi, RKS dominated Marist who committed way too many high tackles. RKS played smart AND brave rugby, set pieces, patient phase play, zero mistakes, and quick ball out wide for their backline especially the very exciting, line breaking #12.

The 2nd U17 Semi was the game my better half came to watch. MGM took the game to QVS. They scored first, then again before QVS recovered and put points on. You could see that MGM knew they were going to win from the size difference, the dominant scrum, so many stolen lineouts, meters gained, tackles broken. They played smart, 70-minutes rugby. Zero injuries means they're at full strength against RKS next week.

For $25, you get AMAZING all-day rugby. We sat next to the most passionate QVS supporter with a booming voice that shook the rafters, spooking the Grammar supporters with a tingling "Ia Kachia". We saw Sigatoka Methodist Raluve girls keep the ball alive better than NBA basketball players. We saw Marist U18, U17, and U16 all defeated despite massive resources meaning an end to any Dynasty and fears for their future. Finally, we saw 2 new teams enter the Finals for the 1st time.

I love Fiji!!!