American-based Manasa Saulo will depart our shores next week to join the Fijian Drua’s camp in Australia.

The 32-year-old tighthead prop arrived into the country last Saturday and this was confirmed by Fijian Drua manager Peceli Derederenalagi.

“Manasa was in the quarantine facility for a few days and will spend a week with his family before he comes across,” he said.

Derederenlagi said their camp at Lennox is not new to Serupepeli Vularika and Peni Matawalu.

New Zealand based-Onisi Ratave completed his mandatory quarantine hours and flew out with the team.

He said overseas based- players from New Zealand and Australia would be meeting in Sydney along with hooker, Mesulame Dolakoto.

“Next week, the big thing will be for the players to know each other. It’s been quite a while.

“It’s good that the Australian and New Zealand players have had some game time.

“It is a challenge for the local boys since there was no game. The only game played was by the sevens players.

“The coaches have faith in them and they hope to reach the target they’ve set.”

Derederenalagi said the players would have their medicals today and training starts on Monday.

“It will be two full months of training until the end of 2021 before we have warm-up games in January.”

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