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Seruvakula Names Drua Squad

Fiji Airways Drua Head Coach, Senirusi Seruvakula yesterday named of the Fiji Airways Drua squad for the 2018 Australian National Rugby Cham­pionship (NRC) which kicks off next month. The Fiji
08 Aug 2018 10:25
Seruvakula Names Drua Squad
Fiji Airways Fijian Drua coach Senirusi Seruvakula. Photo: FRU Media

Fiji Airways Drua Head Coach, Senirusi Seruvakula yesterday named of the Fiji Airways Drua squad for the 2018 Australian National Rugby Cham­pionship (NRC) which kicks off next month.

The Fiji Airways Drua will kick off the 2018 NRC with two home matches against the Melbourne Rising and Brisbane City.

The fifth season of NRC will see the tournament contested under a new format and reduced from nine to eight teams.

The Greater Sydney Rams from NSW are no longer involved in the NRC moving forward.

The tournament will be played over seven consecutive weeks, with an additional two weeks of finals.

The eight teams for the 2018 NRC season include the Canberra Vi­kings, NSW Country Eagles, Syd­ney Rays, Brisbane City, Queens­land Country, Melbourne Rising, Western Force and the Fiji Airways Drua.

The Fiji Airways Drua team pro­vides a pathway for Fiji rugby play­ers vying for a spot in the Swire Shipping Warriors and the Fiji Air­ways Flying Fijians teams.

The Fiji Airways Drua squad sees a good combination of experienced and young players who have either represented the Fiji Airways Fly­ing Fijians, Swire Shipping Fiji Warriors and have played in the FRU’s provincial competition.

The team will play their first match against Melbourne Rising at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori, on September 1.

Coach Seruvakula says that the competition will be more competi­tive than last year.

“We have less than three weeks to prepare and are racing against time. My main concern right now is to prepare the team for the tough competition that we have ahead of us.

“There are only seven teams in this year’s competition and there is no bye, which means that we will be playing every week, so there is a need for the team to maintain consistency in their training and recovery.”

All players named in the extend­ed 33 player squad except for the Naitasiri players that are current­ly involved in the final 2018 HFC Bank Farebrother Challenge are required to march into camp on Thursday at the Penninsula Hotel in Suva with their passports and relevant training equipment for the team’s first two day camp.

Suva based players are required to be at the Penninsula Hotel at 12pm, while the bus will pick up the West­ern based players will begin from Tappoos in Lautoka at 7am.

The additional pick-up locations are at Tappoos, Nadi and Pacific Energy Petrol Station, Sigatoka.

Players that have been named in the shadow squad are on standby and are NOT required to assemble in camp but should continue with their Daily Training Exercises (DTE) at the HPU Gyms closest to them.

The Fiji Airways Drua selected ex­tended team:

Forwards – Eroni Mawi, Joeli Vei­tayaki, Mateo Qolisese, Ratunaisa Navuma, Mesulame Dolokoto, Vugakoto Veremalua, Mosese Du­civaki, Luke Tagi, Alivereti Rabu­kawaqa, Tevita Naqali, Peni Naul­ago, Albert Tuisue, Mosese Voka, Johnny Dyer Jone Navori, Filimoni Seru, Eremasi Radrodro, Peni Ra­idre.

Backs -Serupepeli Vularika, Frank Lomani, Peni Matawalu, Alivereti Veitokani, Jone Manu, Cyril Reece, Jona Sawailau, Poasa Waqanibau, Apisalome Vota, Asesela Atunaisa, Avete Daveta, Levani Kurumudu, Aporosa Tabulawaki, Apisalome Waqatabu, Enele Malele.

Shadow Players – Atunaisa Maio­no, Seru Cakobau, Penijamini Makutu, Samuela Saqiwa, Sailosi Dawai, Elia Canakaivata, Aisea Natoga, Veramu Dikidikilati, Peni Vukayawa, Apenisa Deve, Joseva Turuva, Asesela Ratudamu.

FRU Media



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