Oceania [Fiji], August 25: Fresh off the conclusion of the Vodafone Deans and Weet-Bix Raluve competitions, the best young rugby talent from Fiji's four secondary school zones will now come together for the inaugural Na Soko Franchise Competition.
Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union Vice President of Development Biu Colati says the new initiative will bring together players from the North, East, West and South zones in the Under-16 and Under-18 grades for both boys and girls.
"The four zones are coming in with their Under-16 girls and Under-18 girls teams and also Under-16 boys and Under-18 boys teams. So that is coming in for the first time to be meeting the other teams from the four zones."
The competition, which begins today, is a joint initiative between Fiji Rugby, the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union and the Ministry of Education.
Colati says the tournament will serve as a talent identification platform similar to the national trials traditionally held after the schools' season.
"This is almost like the trials that we normally hold after each competition year where we want to select a national team."
For the first time, selectors will use the competition to identify national teams in four categories: Under-16 boys, Under-18 boys, Under-16 girls and Under-18 girls.
"The coaches and selectors are going to be there to try and put together a national team that we can rightly call the Fiji Secondary Schools girls and boys team."
While the focus remains on national selection, Colati says the programme is still in its early stages.
"There are no promises for any tours. We are just going into the initial stages of identifying talents."
The inaugural Na Soko Franchise Competition is expected to provide another important pathway for the country's top school rugby players following the conclusion of the Deans and Raluve season.
Source: Fijian Broadcasting Cooperation
