The Fijian Drua has announced its participation in the 2025 McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast Sevens, set to take place in January. This decision was revealed in Sigatoka by Drua officials alongside tournament organizers.
The Fiji Coral Coast Sevens is a highly regarded event in the country, showcasing both premier local teams and international competitors. The tournament’s appeal is heightened by the involvement of famous rugby figures. Previous editions have seen rugby 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 about the event, stating, “The Coral Coast 7s is a wonderful tournament, and it’s great for us to be able to field a strong Drua team in this competition. Fans attending the tournament will see some of their favorite Drua players alongside members of our development team, eager to showcase their skills.”
This tournament provides an opportunity for Drua players, who primarily compete in 15s rugby, to challenge themselves against some of the top sevens talent in the country. Jackson emphasized the importance of the event for highlighting top rugby players who have the potential to excel in both sevens and 15s formats.
Several Drua players, including Iosefo Masi, Elia Canakaivata, Meli Derenalagi, Selestino Ravutaumada, Joseva Tamani, Vilive Miramira, and Frank Lomani, have sevens rugby experience. Notably, Masi and Derenalagi were part of the gold medal-winning Fiji team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, while Canakaivata played with Masi when Fiji clinched the 2018 Sevens Rugby World Cup in Cape Town.
Jay Whyte, chairman of the Fiji Coral Coast Sevens organizing committee, expressed his enthusiasm about welcoming Fiji’s first professional rugby franchise to the renowned tournament. He extended his gratitude to Mark Evans for his support during the 2024 tournament and acknowledged Glen Jackson’s encouragement for his team to participate in this significant event.
Whyte noted the immense support for the Drua from the Fijian public, highlighting that 55 percent of the nation watches their games. He looked forward to seeing the Drua compete against top international teams over the three-day tournament taking place from January 16-18 at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.