The Fijian Drua has proudly launched its first-ever Academy, welcoming a group of 29 talented players aged 16 and under as its inaugural cohort. This initiative aims to nurture young rugby talent within the country. Players are scouted from various secondary school competitions and sign contracts with the Fijian Drua, allowing them to gather periodically for training camps at the club’s state-of-the-art facilities in Nadi.
Throughout a comprehensive three-year development program, these young athletes will receive specialized skills training from the Drua coaching team and high-performance staff. The selection of this initial group comes from fifteen local secondary schools across Fiji, with notable representation from Marist Brothers High School, which contributed six players, and Suva Grammar School with four. Additionally, Queen Victoria School, the reigning Vodafone Deans Secondary Schools champion, has two players in the academy.
Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans highlighted the academy’s purpose, stating that it is designed to identify and cultivate a pool of players nationwide, starting with the Under-16 category, and to provide a sustainable pathway to professional rugby. The program involves comprehensive player profiling conducted by Drua scouts, including development coaching staff, FRU high-performance coaches, and experienced coaches from local provinces and former Flying Fijians.
Ben Takubu, the lead of the Drua Academy program, explained that players were selected through the Vodafone Deans Competition and underwent a rigorous screening process before participating in their first two-day camp. He emphasized that the dedicated coaching and specialized training will be instrumental in honing the natural talents of these players, preparing them for the demands of elite-level rugby by the time they complete high school.
Players excelling in this academy will have the opportunity to impress the coaching staff and potentially move on to the Drua Development program, bringing them a step closer to joining the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Super Rugby Pacific squad.
The selected players come from a variety of schools, highlighting the widespread talent in Fiji’s rugby scene, fostering hope for the future of the sport in the region. The establishment of the Drua Academy signifies a promising step towards nurturing young talent, ensuring the sustainability of professional rugby in Fiji for years to come.
This initiative not only strengthens the Fijian rugby community but also builds a brighter future for young athletes, providing them with the tools and opportunities necessary to succeed at higher levels of the sport.
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