Fijian Drua playmakers Tu­idraki Samusamuvodre and Teti Tela are tipped as top bets to assist Ben Volavola at num­ber 10.

Heading into the 2023 Rugby World Cup Samusamuvodre and Tela are on the radar of Flying Fijians head coach Vern Cotters, to orchestrate our play in France.

Speaking to Sun sports, Cotter said the two players would learn a lot from Super Rugby.

“Our identified players are Tela and Samusamuvodre, who are cur­rently with the Fijian Drua in Aus­tralia,” he said.

“Being able to work with Glen Jackson will greatly assist them in game management and skill sets necessary to domi­nate at 10.”

Cotter also said there were some players in the Fly­ing Fijians squad who could assist in the famous number 10 jumper.

“There are a cou­ple of options – probably Vilimoni Botitu,” he said.

“He is our pre­ferred back-up, so we would like to develop his kicking game to give us field position options from 12, being able to step into 10, if needed.

“Otherwise, Frank Lomani, Moses Sorovi and Simione Kuruvoli could play there as well. Setareki Tuiv­ucu is a good player. He is starting to express himself more freely.

“We encourage him to take initia­tive in trying out the 10 position.”

Playing in the 2022 Pacific Super Rugby competition will boost the duo’s capabilities as they are able to rub shoulders with the world’s best No 10’s in Beauden Barrett (Auckland Blues), Richie Mo’uga (Crusaders), Noah Lolesio (Brumb­ies) to name a few.

Samusamuvodre played first five at an early age when he attended Ratu Navula College. In 2019, he played a crucial role in the Fijian Warriors victory at the Pacific Rug­by Championship.

Samusamuvodre captained the Warriors at the Pacific Rugby Chal­lenge and was selected to represent the Flying Fijians squad at the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup.

Tuidraki
Samusamuvodre.

He played provincial rugby for Naitasiri, the defending Inkk Fare­brother Cup holders, and repre­sented Fijian Latui and Fijian Drua during recent campaigns.

Tuidraki signed up with the Dal­las Jackals before the Texas-based side pulled out of the 2021 season.

Since then, Tuidraki has been ful­ly immersed with the Fijian High-Performance Unit before joining the side in New England.

For Ovalau native Tela, he made the Fijian Under-20 side that took part in the 2010 Junior World Championship.

He had a short stint in Spain be­fore returning to Australia and joined the Queensland Country side, under head coach and former All Blacks great Brad Thorn, who developed him to be a better player.

In 2017, Tela played for Country when they won the Australian Na­tional Rugby Championship.

He was again signed up by Thorn to join the Queensland Reds and made his Super Rugby debut in their final match against Sun­wolves.

Tela’s contract with the Reds has expired.