From Fiji Sun (08 August 2024)

Rotuma Returns to Netball Championship After 10 Years

Wesley is hopeful her team can at least have two friendly matches against Kalabu Secondary and Gospel High schools before the Maritime rally on August 19 at the NNC, Suva.

by Ioane Asioli

Rotuma High School is making a return to the 2024 Crest Chicken Fiji Secondary School Netball Championship after a lapse of 10 years.

Fiji Secondary School netball president Navitalai Naivalu said RHS needed to compete in the maritime rally first for a spot in the nationals on August 21-23 at the National Netball Centre, Suva.

"There are no automatic qualifiers," he said.

"Schools like Adi Maopa from Lau, Koro, Gau and Kadavu have confirmed their participation."

Meanwhile RHS manager Lorraine Wesley confirmed they would be competing in the Under-17 division.

There are 17 players in the side.

Getting over to Viti Levu was not easy; the community had to work together to fundraise the $7000 needed to take part in the annual schools netball event.

"We had two kava barrels at the Itumuta community hall to fundraise for our funds for the tournament," she said

Wesley is hopeful her team can at least have two friendly matches against Kalabu Secondary and Gospel High schools before the Maritime rally on August 19 at the NNC, Suva.

"Our principal has been liaising with the two schools, we haven't received anything yet as we just arrived today (yesterday)," she said.

All their U17 players are in Year 11.

"We are going as underdogs as we have a lot to learn and it's going to be a learning experience for the girls," she said.

"We have our expectations, but we'll see how the girls will do in terms of confidence and exposure as it's the first time for them to play in front of other schools."

"The rally is a good platform for the players to build their confidence and gauge their level of competitiveness.

"We'll take one step at a time. We never know probably one or two of them will represent Fiji in netball in the future."

Wesley is urging RHS ex-scholars to turn up in large numbers and cheer on the girls.