Issak Fines-Leleiwasa will come up against his former club, the Western Force, this Saturday in a pivotal Super Rugby Pacific clash as the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua chase a return to form and a place in the play-offs. The round nine fixture at Churchill Park in Lautoka kicks off at 4.30pm and represents a timely test for the Drua, who slipped to 10th on the ladder after last Friday’s heavy 26-69 defeat to the Crusaders.
Fines-Leleiwasa, the scrum-half who left the Force at the end of last season, joined the Drua ahead of the 2026 campaign and is expected to play a key role if named in the starting XV. His signing was notable for the club’s promotional use of an artificial intelligence-generated video — a clip that showed a dreadlocked man paddling a canoe, an image the Drua used to introduce their new recruit. The move was billed as adding experience and depth to a young Drua backline, particularly in the wake of Caleb Muntz’s departure to French Pro D2 side Provence.
When he lined up for the Force, Fines-Leleiwasa had been a regular feature against the Drua, appearing in five previous encounters between the clubs. Those familiar encounters add an extra edge to Saturday’s match, with the former teammate-versus-teammate subplot drawing attention in the build-up. Hooker Nic Dolly, who remains with the Force, has publicly voiced his enthusiasm at meeting Fines-Leleiwasa on the field again. “I think a lot of the boys are very keen to get on with Finesy. He is such a great team man,” Dolly said during the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season launch in February.
For the Drua the match is more than a reunion — it is a must-win if they are to keep realistic hopes of breaking into the competition’s top six and securing a home play-off slot. The 26-point loss to the Crusaders not only dented confidence but also left the Lautoka-based side with work to do in a congested middle of the table as the season heads into its second half.
Coach and selection details have not been released, but Fines-Leleiwasa’s game management and familiarity with the Force’s structures could be pivotal. His experience is seen as a direct response to the backline void created by Muntz’s exit, with the Drua looking for control at the breakdown and quicker distribution from nine to lift their attacking returns.
The Western Force, aware of the narrative around their former player, will also be keen to reassert themselves on tour. Both teams will be mindful of the broader stakes — points against a direct rival can have outsized impact on ladder positions late in the season. Saturday’s fixture at Churchill Park thus promises to be significant for the Drua’s campaign and a personal milestone for Fines-Leleiwasa as he faces faces he once called teammates.
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