ALL talented players who come out of the Powerade Super Deans competition will be monitored by Fiji Rugby Union, says Fiji Airways Flying Fijians head coach John McKee.
He said secondary school players who had secured overseas contracts would also be monitored through their performances in their respective clubs. McKee said Fiji was blessed to have a strong schools competition and it was important to keep a track on talented players after the Deans competition.
He said there were programs in place to continue developing these secondary school players.
“We certainly seen some talented players coming through our school system which is one of the strengths of Fijian rugby. We do have a very strong domestic schools competition,” said McKee.
“And we do have a challenge of keeping track of our best players who have gone overseas and we know some of them have been recruited directly overseas from the Deans competition. “The challenge for us is to keep track of these players that have gone overseas.”
McKee said talented school players who remained in Fiji would be closely monitored and developed into elite pathways to best build their career before being selected in the national team.
“As for the players that remain in Fiji, we really have to provide very good elite pathways afterthey leave schools. There are pathways for these players such as the Fiji Rugby Union academy, possibly the national under-20s, the 7s program, the Drua and the Fiji Warriors. “We have a lot of high quality programs on the islands and these players can continue with their development,” he added.
Some players from Ratu Kadavulevu School, Cuvu College, Ratu Navula College and Marist Brothers High School have been lined-up for overseas contracts following the Deans competition two weeks ago.
RKS centre Solomone Naiduki is the first player to be signed by NRL side Canberra Raiders.
Another player likely to secure a contract is Cuvu College utility backline player Inoke Nalaga, the younger brother of former Fiji rep Napolioni Nalaga.
