No Word on Drua Players for Tourney

The Nadroga rugby team will utilise their one month break to recover and strategise before their INKK Farebrother Sullivan Trophy challenge on June 1.

This was the gist that Nadroga Rugby Union President Jiuta Waqavonovono made in an interview with SUNsports yesterday.

“It’s good that the players will recover properly and regroup, especially the ones that are injured,” he said.

“Everybody wants to win as no one prepares to lose and that’s the focus for us now.”

Waqavonovono said the Nadroga side treats all participating teams in the Farebrother Challenge with respect.

“There is no word about the Fijian Drua players joining us for the Farebrother at the moment,” he said.

“I’m not sure where will the Fijian Drua players be on June 1.”

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Waqavonovono said the buildup to the Farebrother challenge and Skipper Cup quarter-final would be led by the current team in preparation.

“It’ll be a big boost for us, if a few of the Fijian Drua players avail themselves for the Farebrother Challenge,” he said.

“We’re not going to look back and lament on our losses so we’re just trying to look ahead.”

Waqavonovono said it was good for their side to include under 20 players in their Skipper Cup campaign.

“We want these players to taste what high level of rugby in Fiji is like,” he said.

“It was good to test these young players out and we’ll make amends in areas that need improvement.”

Waqavonovono said he had high expectations of consistency from their team.

“Playing expensive rugby is not easy as it takes its toll and we’re trying to refocus on all that,” he said.

Financial Challenges

According to Waqavonovono, Nadroga Rugby Union used to receive $55,000 in grants back when the Skipper Cup was formatted as an eight teams’ competition.

“Now that we have 10 teams, the grant has gone from $55,000 to $45,000,” he said.

“It costs a lot of money to prepare the team and take them around for the matches.”

Waqavonovono said the aim for the union is for the players to secure contracts and venture out overseas.

“We want to secure the future of these young rugby players,” he said.

Waqavonovono said he was grateful to have the services of a few Fijian Drua players in their Skipper Cup campaign.

“They came in with a high level of intensity of rugby which is what the Nadroga rugby players learn from,” he said.

“In order for these players to move up; they have to have a lot of rugby preparation ready.”

Waqavonovono had wished all other teams in the Farebrother Challenge well in their preparation.

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