Fifty-seven rugby players from various Fiji Secondary Schools zones participated in a two-day screening event at the Fijian Drua facility in Nadi this week. From these players, only 30 will be chosen to form the inaugural cohort of the Drua Academy.
Ben Takubu, who leads the Drua Academy program, mentioned that the selection process involved numerous coaches, including former Flying Fijians players. The players also collaborated with the Drua’s high-performance unit coaches, Naca Cawanibuka and Eroni Sotutu.
“We conducted extensive recruitment from the Fiji Secondary Schools zones, attracting players from the northern, southern, and western divisions,” stated Takubu. The academy aims to nurture local talent and minimize the risk of players being drawn abroad by overseas scouts.
The selected players will be 18 years old or younger, an age where many talented individuals tend to leave the country for international opportunities. “Essentially, the academy is designed to support players under 18 from various schools and aids in their skills development,” Takubu explained.
“We are fortunate to have these youths with us and are excited about the talent we have seen. We eagerly anticipate the outcomes of this program,” he added. The players also had the chance to observe the training session of the FIJI Water Flying Fijians during their time at the facility.
Ultimately, the final 30 players will receive contracts from the Drua.