When National U-20 Rugby Captain Jese Cirikisuva leads Fiji out for their opening IRB Junior World Championship match in Newport against England on Saturday, his late predecessor John Vugakoto will not be far from the thoughts of the flanker and his team-mates.

The Junior Fijians are dedicating their appearance in the inaugural tournament in Wales over the next three weeks to Vugakoto, and will be wearing black armbands in their matches to honour him.

Cirikisuva said that despite having played together in the Under-19 team last year, the road ahead for his team will not be an easy one.