Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Glen Jackson has congratulated four of his players after they earned maiden call-ups to the Flying Fijians for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup.
Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Etonia Waqa, Taniela Rakuro and Isoa Tuwai have been selected to wear the white and black for the August–September tournament, in which Fiji will defend the PNC title against Samoa, Tonga, Canada, Japan and the United States. The quartet join 20 other Drua representatives named in the 30-member Flying Fijians squad. Drua development player Kavaia Tagivetaua also makes the squad, having been part of the July Test extended group and still awaiting his test debut.
Jackson praised each player’s pathway and progress. He singled out Rakuro for an outstanding Super Rugby Pacific season and noted his five tries in the NPC as evidence of his finishing ability. Samusamuvodre was described as a success story — a player who has been with the club from the beginning and has fully embraced professional rugby. Jackson said Tuwai has worked hard on specific areas flagged last year and shown excellent improvement, while Waqa has demonstrated strong leadership and a successful comeback from a knee injury.
Why this matters
– Strong Drua presence in the national squad underlines the club’s role as a key pipeline for the Flying Fijians and highlights successful player development pathways.
– The mix of experienced club combinations and fresh faces can boost cohesion across set pieces and phase play, giving the national side ready-made partnerships to deploy quickly.
– Each call-up offers tactical options: Rakuro’s try-scoring form and Samusamuvodre’s pace and aerial game add finishing threats out wide; Tuwai’s work in the loose and Waqa’s leadership add physicality and structure in the pack.
Additional comments and logical notes
– Including a development player like Kavaia Tagivetaua reinforces that the coaching staff are looking beyond immediate results and planning for depth and future caps.
– Debutants stepping into a settled group typically benefit from established combinations and mentorship from senior pros, which can accelerate their transition to international rugby.
– For the Drua, heavy representation in the national squad is a vote of confidence in their recruiting, coaching and conditioning programs — and it should motivate younger players in the Skipper Cup and other domestic competitions.
Short summary
Four Drua players — Samusamuvodre, Waqa, Rakuro and Tuwai — have earned first national call-ups for the Pacific Nations Cup, joining a strong contingent of Drua representatives in a 30-player Flying Fijians squad; coach Glen Jackson praised their development, resilience and form, and the selections underscore the Drua’s growing contribution to Fiji’s player pipeline.
Hopeful spin
These selections are encouraging for both the Drua and Fiji rugby as a whole: they demonstrate that investment in local development is yielding international-ready players, while offering the Flying Fijians fresh energy and options as they defend their PNC crown. Fans can look forward to seeing new talent tested alongside seasoned campaigners.
Suggested add-ons for the published piece
– Include a short player-by-player blurb (age, position, key recent performances) if available, to help readers connect with the debutants.
– Link to the Pacific Nations Cup schedule and match dates so readers know when to watch.
– Add a quote box with Jackson’s key lines to give the story a human voice (if full quotes are available).
Leave a comment