THE Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) coaching director Franck Boivert says the upcoming Fiji Schoolboys under-18 matches against Australia was important in determining the pathway for players.
With FRU using these matches to select the national U20 team for next year's Junior Rugby World Cup, Boivert said they needed to identify a group of players to develop them for the senior level.
"It is important to determine the players' pathway and identify a group of players to be groomed for senior level," Boivert said.
"Under-18 is somewhat like the middle stage between the Kaji rugby and the senior level and it's the ideal stage to earmark players for the senior level."
Almost 80 secondary school players turned up for the trials on Thursday at Bidesi Park in Suva and Boivert was impressed with the results attained from the day-long event.
Boivert hailed the level of intensity the players showed at the trials.
"Drop balls and communication breakdown was expected because
they come from different environments and have no knowledge of each other's playing styles," he said.
"The team has already been selected and needs to be approved by the board before it's made public."
Boivert and Fiji sevens assistant coach Etuate Waqa were part of the selection panel to pick the Fiji President's XV and the Fiji Schoolboys team.
The Fiji President's XV and the Fiji Schoolboys will play the visiting Australian Schoolboys team on September 22 in Nadi and September 25 in Lautoka.