Traditional Welcome For Fijian Drua

The Fijian Drua rugby side were traditionally welcomed by the Ngangbul Country and the Lennox Head community on Friday.

The Drua are going to be based at the Lake Ainsworth Sports and Recreation Centre to prepare for their debut at the Super Rugby Pacific competition which gets underway on February 18.

The local-based players flew out to Sydney, Australia, last Thursday where they were joined by the New Zealand and Australia-based players.

Interim Drua franchise chief executive Brian Thorburn and head coach Mick Bryne spoke during the welcoming ceremony.

Thorburn said it wasn’t easy finding a location where the team could base itself for such an extended period.

“We needed to find a home base where the team could initially prepare over a three month period until the end of January 2022, which then could be used as a home base between Super Rugby Pacific matches during the 2022 season,” he said

“The Lake Ainsworth facility provides everything that we need. It has an excellent training field, a great gym and all the facilities needed to provide a professional environment for a Super Rugby team.

“Our players will stay in cottages on site, enjoy very high-quality dining facilities, with team rooms and coaches’ offices that are a great fit.”

Also at the welcoming ceremony was New South Wales member of parliament Ben Franklin, Ballina Shire Council Mayor David Wright, traditional custodian of Ngangbal Country in the Bundjalung Nation, Lois Cook, former Australian Wallabies star first five eight Berrick Barnes and Greg Clarke.

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