Rain and heavy conditions did not deter schools from showing good sevens rugby. Palalaua College beat Falealili College in the Zone A National Schools Sevens under-18 final 10-5 to claim victory.

The skies opened up from the morning, and sometimes heavy rain continued for long spells. This did not shut down the momentum, and the teams showed good skills.

The slippery surface made ball-handling difficult, but the competition remained intense from start to finish.

In the final standings, Vaimauga College and host school Leififi College finished in third place. 

Palalaua College rose above the field and the mud to take first place and claim the 2026 championship title. The team’s standout playmaker, Eddie Aukusitino, earned the award for Best Player of the tournament after delivering a commanding performance throughout the day.

Officials confirmed that the Secondary Schools Rugby 15s competition is scheduled for next week as teams prepare for another round of high-stakes school rugby.

This year also marked the return of St Joseph's College to the rugby field after being banned for more than two years.

Officials were also glad to report that there were no incidents during the tournament and were pleased with the discipline from the players and fans.