Dynamic Fiji U n d e r – 2 0 backs Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula and Epeli Waqaicece have signed up with the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua for next season’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific. 

The duo recently starred for Manawatu in the New Zealand National Provincial Championship by beating Auckland for the first time.  

Ravula, who was rated as the best No.10 in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in South Africa, is the nephew of Crusaders and All Blacks star first-five eight Richie Mo’unga. 

Waqaicece hails from a rugby family where his dad Kavekini and brother Napolioni Nalaga played for the Flying Fijians.  

The young duo will join the Drua squad in October in preparation for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.  

Both have signed multi-year contracts, declining genuine interest from other professional franchises to forge their careers within the Fijian Drua and Fiji Rugby high performance pathway.  

Drua head coach Mick Byrne was ecstatic as he welcomed the duo onboard: “These are very exciting times for us, to sign players like Isaiah and Epeli who are coming back to Fiji to be part of this journey with the Drua and Fijian Rugby in general. An added bonus is having two players that are best friends opting to play for us.  

“This will give us an opportunity to work with these young players and develop them into professional athletes.  

“I am really looking forward to spending quality time with Isaiah and Waqa to help them grow, while giving them the opportunity to become world class players with the talent and skillset they already have.”  

Armstrong-Ravula was hugely impressive as flyhalf for Fiji U20’s at the recent World Rugby U20 Championship, where he made the team of the tournament. He is eligible for Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga, but has chosen to represent the Fijian Drua and make himself available for Fiji where he has connections to Moce, Lau, through his father Steve Ravula.  

He attended Ipswich State High School in Brisbane and Saint Andrew’s College in Christchurch. 

Armstrong-Ravula currently plays for Manawatu Turbos in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship and was also part of the Hurricanes Academy and the Hurricanes U20 in recent years.  

Meanwhile it’s a homecoming for Nadroga lad Waqaicece. He has strong roots in Nasama Village on the outskirts of Sigatoka town, and is the younger brother of former Flying Fijians, Western Force and Clermont winger Napolioni Nalaga.  

Waqaicece is also part of the Manawatu Turbos (NPC) and the Hurricanes U20 Squad. He was the Hurricanes U20s Player of the Year in 2022.  

Byrne added: “Full credit goes to our Drua organisation for attracting these players, who had otheropportunities to play in New Zealand, Tonga, and Samoa, but chosethe Drua. Similar to the youngdevelopment players who we haveprogressed into the Fijian Drua Super Rugby Pacific squad and the 18players we have progressed to theFlying Fijians, we look forward towelcoming these players into ourFijian high performance pathway.” 

Story By: Leone Cabenatabua 

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj