The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head to Suncorp Stadium tonight intent on ending their 2026 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season on a high when they meet the Queensland Reds, kick-off 9.35pm. The fixture is the Drua’s final match of the campaign after they missed out on a top-six finish and were left frustrated by a narrow defeat in Perth last week that denied them a first-ever win there.
Coach Glen Jackson admitted the position of the team on the ladder has been a source of frustration — the Drua sit second from the bottom despite recording five wins, the same tally as several teams above them — but insisted motivation within the squad remains strong. “It’d be lovely to finish off with a historic win at a magical ground here in Brisbane,” Jackson said, urging his players to reward a season of hard work with a memorable performance.
Jackson revealed the squad elected to stay in Australia rather than return to Fiji after the Perth match, using the extra time to prepare specifically for the Reds’ style of play. The coaching staff have focused on countering Queensland’s mobile, skilful forward pack by selecting a side capable of playing an attacking brand of rugby and generating quick, front-foot ball through the loose forwards.
Loose forwards Kitione Salawa and Elia Canakaivata have been singled out by Jackson as central to that plan. Their form and ability to secure quick ball at the breakdown is expected to provide the platform for the Drua to play expansively. “Their ability to provide quick front-foot ball would be key to the Drua’s game plan,” Jackson said, underlining the importance of the forward battle to unlock the backline.
In the backline the Drua have opted for multiple playmakers, with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula named at fullback to help stretch and move the ball around the park and test the Reds’ defensive structures. Jackson expects the combination of mobile forwards and creative backs to produce an entertaining contest against a Reds side also known for its attacking intent. “I know the Reds are a good team to watch and a good team to play, so it should be a cracking game,” he said.
Tonight’s match will be broadcast live on FBC Sports, giving fans in Fiji and the region the chance to follow the Drua’s bid to finish the season positively. Beyond pride and momentum, a strong showing in Brisbane would offer the coaching staff and players tangible proof of the progress made this year as they head into the off-season and preparations for 2027.