They are the future of Fijian Rugby.

They need to get all the support they can gather as they prepare for this year’s Australian National Rugby Championship (NRC).

After their first year of participation at the NRC in 2017, the Fiji Airways Fijian Drua side have actually made rugby heavyweights, not only in Australia but around the world, sit up and take notice of the abundance of untapped talents that we have.

How Drua wing Eroni Sau after the NRC continued that momentum to the 2017/18 HSBC World Sevens Series where he was named the Sevens Rookie Player of the Year.

Secondly, the selection of Kalivati Tawake, Mosese Ducivaki, Joeli Veitayaki, Frank Lomani, Alivereti Veitokani, Ratunaisa Navuma and Mosese Voka to play for the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians during the 2017 end of the year tour to Europe.   

Not only that, the call for tighthead prop Kalivati Tawake to join the New South Wales Waratahs camp this year, which then progressed to a couple of Super Rugby matches.

The rush made by the Melbourne Rebels officials to fly over Drua halfback Lomani to cover for the injured Will Genia during the recent Super Rugby competition.

Now it’s the French Top 14 club Perpignan which has signed up Sau while Drua first five-eighth Peceli Nacebe has sealed the deal with Bordeaux Begles. Young Swire Shipping Fijian lock Tevita Ratuva played for Brisbane City in the NRC last year.

Living up to expectations

Made up of local-based players the Fijian Drua have actually lived up to expectations.

This year head coach Senirusi Seruvakula has roped in young talented players who have starred for their provincial unions during the Skipper Cup Premiership, Vodafone Vanua Challenge, Bainimarama Shield Challenge and the HFC Bank Farebrother Challenge.

They include Mesulame Dolokoto, Vugakoto Veremalua, Luke Tagi, Tevita Naqali, John Dyer, Jone Navori, Jone Manu, Jona Sawailau, Poasa Waqanibau and Enele Malele have a promising future ahead of them.

Playing in the NRC gives them the opportunity to compete with Super Rugby players like Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi, Karmichael Hunt, James Slipper and the list goes on.

The exposure and the experience our young Drua players are going to gain from these NRC matches is surely going to lift them to a higher platform.

This is what the future of Fijian Rugby needs and the good news is that we are on that right path.

The onus is now on the rugby fans if they could come out in big numbers and support our Fijian Drua side in all their home games in this year’s NRC competition.

This is the kind of support our future rugby stars need and as die-hard fans we must give it to them.

Fiji Airways Fijian Drua Home Game fixtures:

• Round One: September 1 Fijian Drua v Melbourne Rising, Nausori, Ratu Cakobau Park, 3pm;
• Round Two: September 8 Fijian Drua v Brisbane City, Churchill Park, Lautoka;
• Round Five: September 29 Fijian Drua v NSW Country Eagles, Nausori, Ratu Cakobau Park, 3pm;
• Round Six: October 6 Fijian Drua v Canberra Vikings, Lautoka, Churchill, 3pm

Feedback:  leonec@fijisun.com.fj