Negotiations are underway for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua to host all of their pre-season matches locally. Coach Glen Jackson expressed intentions to take a different approach this season, stating they aim to play no pre-season games away from home, allowing the team to enjoy their environment.
Discussions are ongoing regarding a potential match against the RFC Los Angeles rugby team, which is expected to take place at the end of January. The American club features former Flying Fijian flanker and Olympic gold medallist Semi Kunatani, who competes in the Major League Rugby.
Additionally, the Drua management is organizing an internal trial to allow players to compete against one another. Jackson noted that while plans are not yet finalized, the Drua hopes to schedule games against Provincial Union teams participating in the Skipper Cup, including Nadroga, Naitasiri, Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Suva, Tailevu, Macuata, Namosi, and Malolo. Playing these matches in Nadi is intended to foster more local opportunities and create exciting games throughout the country.
Furthermore, the Drua is set to participate in local sevens rugby tournaments, with confirmation to compete in the McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast Sevens next year. This participation will allow the Drua players, who specialize in 15s rugby, to test their skills against some of the top sevens players in Fiji.
In preparation for the season, the Drua’s pre-season camp in Kadavu is also being organized. Jackson, along with Head of Athletic Performance Naca Cawanibuka, is inspecting potential camp locations. They conducted a traditional i-sevusevu ceremony at Tavuki Village before visiting Vunisea. Jackson emphasized that the primary goal of the Kadavu camp is to strengthen team cohesion both on and off the field.
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