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Suva Grammar U18 Coach Completes Full Circle with Championship Win

From FBC News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Suva Grammar School's under-18 rugby team won the Vodafone Super Deans Under 18 title, ending a 21-year drought.
  • Head coach Epeli Osborne, a former player from the last winning team, guided the new generation of players.
  • The victory was attributed to the team's dedication and the strong support from the school's community and old scholars.

Suva Grammar School's under-18 rugby team has clinched the Vodafone Super Deans Under 18 title, triumphing 36-21 over Lelean Memorial School. This victory marks the end of a 21-year wait for the championship, bringing immense pride to the school and its community.

I’ve been telling these boys ever since they’ve been coming up through their grades, right from Under 14, how to do it.

— Epeli OsborneThe head coach spoke about his long-term guidance to the players leading up to the championship win.

Leading the charge was head coach Epeli Osborne, who holds a unique connection to the school's past success. Osborne was part of the Suva Grammar side that last won the title 21 years ago. Now, as a coach, he has guided a new generation of players, affectionately known as the Lions, back to championship glory.

Osborne shared that the long drought had been a persistent topic of conversation as he watched Grammar's teams progress through the age grades. "I’ve been telling these boys ever since they’ve been coming up through their grades, right from Under 14, how to do it," he stated, emphasizing his long-term vision for the team.

We talked about it as a group and I told them, look, I’ll jump in and we’ll try and show the boys in Grammar how it’s done.

— Epeli OsborneOsborne explained his decision to take a more hands-on coaching role this season.

This year, Osborne decided to take a more active role, moving beyond the traditional encouragement from old scholars. "We talked about it as a group and I told them, look, I’ll jump in and we’ll try and show the boys in Grammar how it’s done," he explained. His hands-on approach proved decisive in breaking the two-decade-long wait.

All the scholars and the support of the Grammar community have been awesome. We wouldn’t be doing this without the support.

— Epeli OsborneThe coach acknowledged the vital contributions of the school's alumni and community.

Osborne also highlighted the crucial role of unwavering support from the school's old scholars, parents, and the wider Grammar community. "All the scholars and the support of the Grammar community have been awesome. We wouldn’t be doing this without the support," he said. For Osborne, the emotional weight of winning as both a player and a coach after such a long period was profound, admitting, "I can’t explain how I’m feeling right now."

I can’t explain how I’m feeling right now.

— Epeli OsborneOsborne expressed the overwhelming emotion of winning the title as a coach after 21 years.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by FBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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