Fiji - Post World Cup

[russ13]

Still more:
http://fijidailypost.com/news.php?section=3&fijidailynews=21722

Saints, Reds enter league competition
31-Jan-2009 09:58 AM

LATER Day Saints Secondary School and Marist Brothers High School are the latest recruitment for the Fiji National Rugby League for the Fiji Secondary Schools League competition.

And all credit goes to the Vodafone Fiji Bati’s sterling performance at the Rugby League
World Cup in Australia last year.

While many fans have turned from union to league because of the popularity it gained in only 17 years of its existence in the country where everyone is playing union, schools have not taken the back seat either.

Vodafone Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League competition has this year turned around to be a much bigger base and with more schools.

The competition which started with only four schools namely Suva Grammar School, Nabua Secondary School, Ratu Sukuna Memorial School and Laucala Bay Secondary School in their first year has gained much attention and Lelean Memorial School - the current Deans champions joined in last year alongside Nasinu Secondary School,

Late last year Queen Victoria School and Ratu Kadavulevu School called the FNRL to count them in their competition this year.

But with the inclusion of MBHS and LDS means tougher and longer competition for the schools especially as a build-up to the annual union competition - the Deans Trophy.

This was confirmed by schools competition coordinator Biu Colati yesterday.

Colati said the competition which had increased to 10 teams meant that league had become very tough especially for teams that aimed to do it big in the Deans competition.

“MBHS and LDS are the newest teams in the competition and the meeting next week will
confirm everything,” he said.

 

[russ13]

Ditto:

http://www.fijitimes.com:80/story.aspx?id=113625

League cashes in

Thursday, February 05, 2009


RUGBY league is cashing in on establishing a new world order.
With the Fiji Bati powering into the World Cup semi-finals, league is enjoying a freshly flourishing interest in a largely rugby union-mad nation.
Fiji National Rugby League administrative officer Rusiate Ratakele said this year's local Vodafone-sponsored championship competitions had expanded.
"We had 10 teams competing last year but now we have two new inclusions –– Davuilevu Knights and the Police team from Nasova," said Ratakele.
In the Vodafone secondary schools competitions there are five new additions –– Ratu Sukuna Memorial School, Queen Victoria School, International Secondary, Latter Day Saints Secondary and John Wesley, an increase from last year's six.
With the school year freshly under way, there is bound to be intense competition and strong development for the field in what is still considered a minority sport in the country.
More students will now be able to flaunt their skills, all in the hope of making the Bati for the next World Cup.
It all starts on Valentine's Day when no love will be lost when schools rivalry finds another outlet –– rugby league.
Already there are 67 players chosen in training squad for the Mini South Games.
Ratakele said the squad would continue training, with fortnightly tests.
"July will see the team getting trimmed to 20 and by August we will continuously trim the team to get the cream and reducing it until we get to 12 players," he said.
As for the overseas-based players, Ratakele said they would have to fight for their spots in any Bati side.
"They are with their respective clubs, awaiting renewal of contracts or looking at prospective clubs," he said. "But they too will be under regular scrutiny."

 

[russ13]

As above:


http://www.fijitimes.com:80/story.aspx?id=114473

Hayne boosts school league

Sunday, February 15, 2009

JARRYD Hayne opened the Secondary Schools Rugby League for the year before the young boys tore up the rugby field yesterday at Buckh-urst Park.
The tournament open-ed in the usual way with a prayer by Talatala Tuilo-ma and followed with speeches plus a birthday congratulations to Hay-nes, who celebrated his 21st birthday at the Vine-Yard last night.
Fiji National Rugby League administrator Rusi Ratakele yesterday said that he was very impressed with the performances from Ratu Kadavulevu School and Queen Victoria School.
Results: U15 Suva Gra-mmar 10 RKS Eeels 4, U15 Laucala Bay Sharks 6 Lelean Bulldogs 18, U16 Suva Grammar Lions 24 Laucala Bay 0, U17 Ratu Kadavulevu School Eels 25 Laucala Bay Sharks 10, U17 Queen Victoria School Knights 16 Suva Grammar Lions 6, U19 Nabua Broncos 15 Lau-cala Bay Sharks 6, U18 Suva Grammar Lions 8 Ratu Sukuna Dragons 16, U19 Queen Victoria Sch-ool Knights 16 Suva Grammar Lions 16, U18 Laucala Bay Sharks 16 Nabua Broncos 14.
[\quote]

 

[playdaball]

Brilliant news - the timing is perfect as the Fiji 7s team appear to be falling off their usual top spot (s).

 

[Coastbloke]

Pity we'll see Hayne in the NSW Blues side this year...

Fijian, Australian, NSW, Fijian etc etc.....

 

[Dave The Maori]

Dynamic Suka happy with selection
February 22, 2009
Rugby Union convert, hard hitting and line breaking dynamo, Waisale Suka says he had faith in his game and knew he would be named in the Sevens Rugby World Cup squad for Dubai.

The former Fiji Rugby League assistant captain to the 2008 RLWC where Fiji reached the semi-finals was in tip top form for his Lomaiviti side and fitted in well at rover and the playmaker’s role.

“Even though I have represented Fiji in rugby league, it has been my goal to play rugby as well,” the 24-year old said.

Suka turned down an offer from the English club Barrow Raiders to boost his chances of making the world cup team.

“I knew the Marist 7s was coming up and I knew the world cup team was being selected – turning down the Barrows deal was not a blessing in disguise, I did it because I wanted to play rugby.”

“Now I get the play both sports that I love, rugby and rugby league.”

Suka has set his sights on a French club that will allow him to play both codes, he is expected to join them later this year.

“I thank God for giving me this talent but I also want to acknowledge my rugby league experience for the defence and attack game.”

Fiji National Rugby League coach Jo Rabele said he was proud of Suka for making the squad and wished him all the best.

“He is a talented player, proved himself at the rugby league world cup last year and now he a chance to do that again in Dubai.”

“The FRU has made a wise decision in selecting him,” Rabele added.

Suka and the Fiji 7s squad for Dubai march into camp later today to start preparations for the Melrose Cup defence.

The Lomaiviti native is among four new faces in the squad.

Fellow Lomaiviti player Waqabaca Kotobalavu, Nadi man Suliasi Ramasima and Ovalau loosie Apisai Nayabo are the four new faces in the squad.

http://www.fijilive.com/sports/rugby/news/2009/02/22/8013.Fijilive

 

[roopy]

Union 7s and League are more similar than Union 7s and Union.

7s are the national sport of Fiji, and they are pretty much the best in the world at League 7s right now too.

I don't think this will be the last time we see crossover.

 

[joshreading]

I was in Fiji last week (actually briefly chatted to Hayne on the plane back from Nadi) and talking to everyone the profile of RL is growing but the presence of Rugby 7's (rather than normal union) is HUGE (jerseys for sale everywhere but I could not get a Bati Shirt). It does reinforce to me the importance of adapted forms of the game in helping promote it in general.

 

[Dave The Maori]

Union 7s and League are more similar than Union 7s and Union.

7s are the national sport of Fiji, and they are pretty much the best in the world at League 7s right now too.

I don't think this will be the last time we see crossover.

common bro . rugby union 7's is rugby union . they have the same rules man .
rugby union is fiji's national sport . 7's might be the high profile of the two internationally for fiji but in schools, clubs and provincial, the 15 man game rules .
it won't be a bad crossover but the dude has already sign a contract with an english rugby league club .

 

[roopy]

common bro . rugby union 7's is rugby union . they have the same rules man .
rugby union is fiji's national sport . 7's might be the high profile of the two internationally for fiji but in schools, clubs and provincial, the 15 man game rules .
it won't be a bad crossover but the dude has already sign a contract with an english rugby league club .

I know your mind is closed and it's a waste of time pointing it out to you, but Union 7s doesn't revolve around opposed scrums and lineouts, it revolves around the same running, passing and tackling skills that are more pronounced in League than Union.
Union and League 7s are so close the same players can play either by just remembering to either hold the ball or release it depending on what form they are playng.
The major 'skills' that separate Union from League (the mindnumbingly boring bits) are hardly used in 7s.

 

[Dave The Maori]

I know your mind is closed and it's a waste of time pointing it out to you, but Union 7s doesn't revolve around opposed scrums and lineouts, it revolves around the same running, passing and tackling skills that are more pronounced in League than Union.
Union and League 7s are so close the same players can play either by just remembering to either hold the ball or release it depending on what form they are playng.
The major 'skills' that separate Union from League (the mindnumbingly boring bits) are hardly used in 7s.

take a break bro . now take your rugby league hat off bro . and ask yourself bro . who runs the rugby union 7's and what rules is rugby union 7's played under ?

 

[roopy]

take a break bro . now take your rugby league hat off bro . and ask yourself bro . who runs the rugby union 7's and what rules is rugby union 7's played under ?

Go and watch a game.
It's league with a few token rule differences.

 

[Dave The Maori]

Go and watch a game.
It's league with a few token rule differences.

i have . its rugby union with 7 players a side .

 

[Sam_the_man]

Union stole 7's from league years ago. My old man used to play sevens at practise at Ponsonby RL. He says that 7's was old even when he was playing and thats going back to the 50's.

 

[Thomas]

Go and watch a game.
It's league with a few token rule differences.

I see what you are getting at but its Union, mate. Competitive scrums, rucks, mauls, lineouts are all included in the 7's.

There's no 10 metre gap as in league, no play the ball....

About the only thing you don't see in 7's compared to 15 a side union are endless shots at goal.

 

[crimpo]

Its all a cunning plot to outflank RL by moving to Sevens from 15-a-side I tell you!!

 

[Dave The Maori]

Its all a cunning plot to outflank RL by moving to Sevens from 15-a-side I tell you!!

the pacific islands have played 7's long before league arrived bro . the 15-a-side is more popular than sevens but its the 7's game that as given the islands the best results so far at international level .

 

[Coastbloke]

Why is yawnion being discussed..??

If you love the game so much, go and join a yawnion forum....I believe the thread is about Fiji post world cup...

Jeez, it's like going onto the Knights forum and they are declaring their undying love for Con and his crappy Jets and not talking up the Knights...

 

[hutch]

take a break bro . now take your rugby league hat off bro . and ask yourself bro . who runs the rugby union 7's and what rules is rugby union 7's played under ?

im all bro'd out!

 

[crimpo]

I see Dave didn't understand irony - a shame if not necessarily a surprise!