Drua CEO confident Drua will improve

Fijian Drua chief executive officer (CEO) Jeff Miller is confident the coaching staff will implement structures that will lift team performance this season. Drua had a poor finish last year; ending the sea­son at number 10.

The season statistics also showed poor defence.

"We hope that when you read your (defence) stats for the end of next season, we're not in that po­sition. We're closer to the top than the bottom," Miller told SUNsports yesterday.

Miller is a former Wallaby and Reds flanker who also played rugby sevens at the Hong Kong 7s in 1987. He said there was a lot of thought process in his decision to take up the role of Fijian Drua CEO which was left vacant by Mark Evans.

"This opportunity came up and it's time for me to give back again to a rugby community and when I heard it was Fiji, a very favourite place of mine," he said.

"Seeing what we can do over a period of time and make a difference for the population, change lives for the better."

To maintain ball possession, Miller said ball jackling was a skill required in rugby at a profes­sional level.

"It's certainly a skill that's required across the board. I know there's terrific athleticism within our back three or the flankers and number eight," he said.

"If the coaching staff can get them actually on the ball, slowing the ball a bit its always advanta­geous."

The 63-year-old represented the Wallabies in the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cup tournaments re­spectively. He made his debut in 1986 and retired in 1991 with a total of 26 caps.

"I loved it when I was playing sevens for Austral­ia and my club at that point in time, but rugby is a journey whether you're playing 7s, 15s and even 10s," Miller said.

"I've been lucky enough to play in World cups and Bledisloe cups."

Miller said it was important for him to give back to the rugby community after gaining a wealth of experience from playing the sport.

"It's really to work with the team and provide any advice or experience that I've gained over the years," he said.

Miller commended the coaching team and the 2026 recruitments.

"Hopefully I don't have a lot to do in these first six months but then after that, we really want to focus on the girl's programme, the Fijiana," he said.

"We have to make sure we got the best people coming through and then there's recruitment and it all starts again in the following years, so we just want to keep building."

"It's a team, I have watched for a while and I'm just excited to be here."

The Fijian Drua will host Mo­ ana Pasifika in Round one of the Super Rugby Pacific competition at Lautoka's Churchill Park on Valen­tine's Day, February 14.