Playing in the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League competition for girls is an exciting and new experience for Anaseini Rogosau and her U19 team from Jasper Williams High School.
Rogosau has only played rugby union. She believes that the school’s inclusion in the rugby league competition will provide her team with the experience and exposure they need for the 13-player code.
“We are looking forward to playing in this code because it’s new and we have only played union before,” the 17-year-old lass from Nalawa in Ra said.
Rogosau was in Suva with other girls from the schools that will be taking part in the competition for the announcement of the game’s new sponsor, Pherrus Financial Services and the official launch of the competition.
Launching the competition, the Chairman of the Fiji National Rugby League, Assistant Commissioner of Police Aporosa Lutunauga said the girls’ competition was a long time coming.
“This is a momentous day for us. It has been a long road to today and we are so glad that the girls’ competition is now off to a great start. We are also very grateful to Pherrus Financial Service for stepping in and sponsoring us.”
JWHS team manager, Kelera Kalou, said the school realised that there are big opportunities in rugby league.
“We also want our girls to be able to have the same opportunities that boys have. Not everyone will have an office job, some will utilize their rugby league skills and maybe move on to earning a contract and that will be an income earner for them.”
‘The girls at Jasper have only ever played in the union code so when this opportunity came up to play in the league, we took it on because this could just be the opportunity some of the girls will have,” Kalou said.
The first round of games for the girls will begin next week. Jasper Williams High School will face St. Thomas High School at Churchill Park Ground 3.
