Fiji Base Plan
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua is keen on setting up their base in Fiji for next year’s Super Rugby Pacific series.
While the location is yet to be finalised, head coach Mick Byrne yesterday revealed in a zoom interview that plans are in the pipeline.
“What we are able to do is to see our training areas in Suva, Sigatoka or Nadi and work with the Fijian rugby high performance unit (HPU),” Byrne said.
“Those decisions will be finalised in a couple of weeks when chief executive officer (Brian Thorburn) meets with some of our people here.
“At this stage we’ll just say we are looking forward to setting up our base in Fiji. We’re working extremely hard to make that happen in time for us to start our pre-season training.”
The Fijian Drua are now based in Nadi after flying in on Saturday. Byrne said hosting their final Super Rugby Pacific match at home was a fitting end to their debut season.
He is proud of how the side has come, training week in and week out.
“The players are looking forward to showcasing what they have in their last game of the year in front of the home crowd,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to finish the season at home.”
Asked if he was leaving the best for last, Byrne responded: “That sounds like a good plan.”
“There has been skill issue around our set-piece and lineout, our scrum has been good.
“Our skills have been interesting – for me when we talk about skills versus talent; we’re a very talented team but our forwards’ ability to run hard with the ball, catch and pass has got to improve and we have been working really hard on that.
“And the other one is the speed of the game. When we started we had a short pre-season in comparison to what was needed. We did not start in great shape; probably one of the biggest things is to improve on the fitness of the players, our ability to keep up with pace and game.
“At the moment, we’re operating at around about 30 per cent of what and where we need to be as far as game pace goes.”
Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj
