Negotiations are currently underway for Swire Shipping Fijian Drua to host all their pre-season matches locally. Drua head coach Glen Jackson revealed that they intend to approach this season differently by avoiding away games and instead enjoying the home environment. He mentioned that discussions are likely to take place at the end of January regarding a match against the RFC Los Angeles rugby team, which features former Flying Fijian flanker and Rio Olympic gold medallist Semi Kunatani, who plays in the American Major League Rugby.
Additionally, Drua management is organizing an internal trial match among the players. Jackson also expressed hopes of arranging games against various Provincial Union teams competing in the Skipper Cup, including Nadroga, Naitasiri, Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Suva, Tailevu, Macuata, Namosi, and Malolo. He emphasized the opportunity to engage with Skipper Cup teams in Nadi, which would allow them to reach out to fans across the country and facilitate quality matches.
The Drua are also planning to compete in local sevens rugby tournaments, confirming their participation in the McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast Sevens tournament early next year. This will enable Drua players, who primarily specialize in 15s rugby, to challenge themselves against some of the finest sevens players in Fiji.
In other news, preparations for the Drua’s pre-season camp in Kadavu in December are progressing well. Jackson, along with the Head of Athletic Performance Naca Cawanibuka, is assessing potential camping sites in Kadavu. They presented their traditional i-sevusevu at Tavuki Village before continuing to Vunisea. Jackson noted that the primary objective of the Kadavu pre-season camp is to strengthen team cohesion both on and off the field.
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