The Fijian Drua Academy celebrated a significant achievement by attaining a 40-17 victory over the Melbourne Brothers rugby club in their first competition match held on Monday at Prince Charles Park, Nadi.
This match was a pivotal occasion for the Drua Academy, marking their initial gameplay as a cohesive unit since the academy’s formation. Ben Padre Takubu, who leads the academy and its community engagement project, expressed immense pride in the team’s performance despite minor setbacks. He acknowledged the team’s challenges with set pieces but remains optimistic about addressing these issues in future training camps.
“I’m super proud of the boys, especially since this is the first time we’ve played together as a group. There were some teething issues with our set pieces, but we’ll address these in our next camp,” said Takubu. He is excited about the team’s development and the potential improvements that training will bring.
Takubu highlighted that the match served as an essential assessment tool, allowing both team dynamics and individual skills to be evaluated. “This was a chance to see how well the boys gel together as a team and test their skills. We’ve started the process, and I’m excited to see their development moving forward.”
The game not only provided a competitive environment for the Drua Academy but also benefitted the Melbourne Brothers, who are in preparation for an international tour this year. In a spirited display of rugby, players from both teams demonstrated their talents, contributing to a fast-paced match filled with dynamic play.
Takubu is confident that this first outing will motivate the Drua Academy players to continue growing and improving as they gear up for future challenges. With a promising start like this, the academy’s journey forward looks bright, offering hope for nurturing future rugby talent in Fiji.
Leave a comment