The Fijian Drua has confirmed that it will participate in the 2025 McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast Sevens set for January. The announcement was made jointly by the Drua and the tournament organizers in Sigatoka on Tuesday.
The Fiji Coral Coast Sevens is a highly regarded tournament in the country, showcasing top local teams and international participants. The event’s appeal is enhanced by the attendance of celebrated rugby figures. Previous editions of the tournament have seen rugby legends such as Waisale Serevi, the late Jonah Lomu, Rasta Rasivhenge, George Gregan, Bryan Habana, and Dan Norton, all of whom have been honored on Sigatoka’s ‘Rugby Town Walk of Fame.’
Drua head coach Glen Jackson expressed excitement about the opportunity, stating, “The Coral Coast 7s is a wonderful tournament, and it’s great for us to be able to field a good Drua team in the competition.” He noted that fans will see some of their favorite Drua players competing alongside members of the Drua development team, who are eager to showcase their abilities.
This competition offers Drua players, primarily trained in 15s rugby, the chance to compete against some of the finest 7s talent in the country. Jackson added, “We’ll be there at the tournament supporting this wonderful event, which showcases top rugby talents who often progress to greater achievements in both 7s and 15s rugby.”
Several Drua players have experience in sevens rugby, including Iosefo Masi, Elia Canakaivata, Meli Derenalagi, Selestino Ravutaumada, Joseva Tamani, Vilive Miramira, and Frank Lomani. Notably, Masi and Derenalagi were part of the gold medal-winning team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, while Canakaivata played alongside Masi during Fiji’s triumph at the 2018 Sevens Rugby World Cup in Cape Town.
Jay Whyte, chairman of the organizing committee for the Fiji Coral Coast Sevens, expressed enthusiasm about the Drua’s participation, saying, “We are absolutely thrilled and honored to welcome Fiji’s first professional rugby franchise, the Drua, to be part of this premier sevens tournament in the southern hemisphere.” He extended gratitude to Mark Evans for his open reception to the idea of a Drua sevens team participating in the tournament, as well as to Glen Jackson for his support.
Whyte noted the immense support for the Drua team, with 55 percent of the nation tuning in to watch their matches. He expressed anticipation for how the Drua players will perform against top talent from Fiji and around the world during the tournament, scheduled for January 16-18 at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.