The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will participate in the 2025 McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast Sevens scheduled for January. This announcement was made today in Sigatoka by representatives from both the Fijian Drua and the tournament organizers.
The McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast 7s is acclaimed as the country’s premier tournament, featuring top local and international teams. Its popularity is greatly enhanced by the presence of notable rugby figures.
Past editions of the tournament have seen legends such as Waisale Serevi, the late Jonah Lomu, Rasta Rasivhenge, George Gregan, Bryan Habana, and Dan Norton in attendance, many of whom are honored on Sigatoka’s ‘Rugby Town Walk of Fame’.
Drua Head Coach Glen Jackson expressed his excitement, stating, “The Coral Coast 7s is a wonderful tournament, and we are thrilled to send a competitive Drua team to the competition.” He added that fans can expect to see some of their favorite Drua players alongside members of the Drua Development team, eager to showcase their skills.
Jackson emphasized the opportunity for his players, primarily experienced in 15s rugby, to compete against some of the top 7s talents in the nation. He said the event is crucial for highlighting talented rugby players who can transition into both 7s and 15s formats.
Chairman of the McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast Sevens Organising Committee, Jay Whyte, expressed his excitement about having Fiji’s inaugural professional rugby franchise participate in the tournament. He extended gratitude to Mark Evans for his support during the previous tournament, which facilitated Drua’s involvement in the upcoming event, and appreciated the support from the new head coach Glen Jackson.
Whyte highlighted the immense national support for the Drua, noting that 55% of Fijians tune in whenever they play. He is eager to witness the Drua players compete against some of the best teams from Fiji and beyond during the tournament, set to take place from January 16 to 18, 2025, at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.