Fifty-seven players from various Fiji Secondary Schools rugby zones participated in a two-day evaluation program at the Fijian Drua facility in Nadi this week. From this group, only 30 will be chosen to join the inaugural cohort of the Drua Academy.
Ben Takubu, the program lead for the Drua Academy, mentioned that the screening involved several coaches, including former Flying Fijians players. The young athletes also interacted with the high-performance unit coaches, Naca Cawanibuka and Eroni Sotutu.
“We conducted a wide recruitment effort across the Fiji Secondary Schools zones, tapping talent from the northern, southern, and western divisions,” Takubu explained. The academy’s primary goal is to keep local talent in Fiji and minimize the likelihood of players being recruited by international scouts.
The players considered for the Drua Academy are 18 years old and younger, a critical age when many athletes typically pursue opportunities abroad. “Essentially, the academy aims to develop skills in players under 18 from their respective schools,” Takubu stated. “We feel privileged to have these young athletes and are excited about the potential outcomes of this program.”
The participants also had the chance to observe the training sessions of the FIJI Water Flying Fijians at the facility. The final 30 players will receive contracts from the Drua.