Yes, the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific fixtures for 2024 have been unveiled.

It has been confirmed that the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will host seven home matches.

Coming over for the first time to play here are the NSW Watarahs and Western Force.

The Waratahs are the former Super Rugby champions.

Other teams who are returning here include defending Super Rugby champions Crusaders, Hurricanes, Moana Pasifika, Queensland Reds, and Melbourne Rebels.

This is good news for rugby fans, as the impact of hosting Super Rugby matches will boost our tourism sector and small businesses. This is going to benefit our country’s economy in a big way.

However, for now, a lot of anticipation is on the Drua’s announcement of the new players who will join them for the next season.

The Nadi-based franchise club has released nine players from last season; they’ve only signed on France-based winger Epeli Momo. The club has confirmed that majority of the players from last season have renewed their contracts.

For the new players, a lot of focus has been on the Fijian Under-20 players to be part of the Drua’s development squad.

It is understood that halfback Philip Baselala and flanker Motikai Murray will be promoted to the senior squad.

No one denies the fact that we have talented players playing in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, who are interested to join the Drua.

This does not mean the Drua selectors should turn a blind eye on our players who are playing in the Skipper Cup and Vodafone Vanua Championship competitions.

This should also include those playing in the Under-20 competitions (to be part for the Drua’s development squad) as well.

These are the players why the Drua franchise was set-up for?

They are the cream of our local-based players and should not be neglected.

We’ve seen how local-based players like Vinaya Habosi, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Taniela Rakuro, Apisalome Vota, Peni Matawalu, Vilive Miramira, Tevita Ikanivere, Samuela Tawake, Meli Derenalagi, Elia Canakaivata and the list goes on, have excelled, and made their mark in Super Rugby.

Surely, we have identified players from this year’s competitions and it’s now about giving them the chance to show that they have what it takes, to take it to another level.

These are the players who have become the secret behind the Drua’s success, where the team has reached the quarterfinals, only in their second year of the competition.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj