The Fijian Drua has officially inaugurated its Academy, welcoming 29 players aged under 16 as its inaugural cohort. This initiative aims to nurture young talent in rugby, marking a significant development for the franchise.
The players, who have been scouted from the secondary school competition, will engage in multiple camps throughout the year at the Drua’s state-of-the-art facilities in Nadi. They are set to receive specialized skills training from experienced Drua coaches and high-performance staff as part of a comprehensive development program over the next three years.
The selected players come from fifteen different secondary schools across Fiji, with Marist Brothers High School contributing the highest number of recruits, providing six players. Suva Grammar School follows closely with four players, while Queen Victoria School, the Vodafone Deans Secondary Schools champion, has two participants in the program.
Mark Evans, the CEO of the Fijian Drua, described the Academy as a vital initiative for identifying and developing young players nationwide. He emphasized the program’s sustainability and focus on creating pathways to professional rugby starting with the Under 16 category. The identification process is coordinated by Drua Scouts, backed by a team of coaches from various levels, including the Fiji Rugby Union’s High Performance Coaches.
Ben Takubu, the Programme Lead for the Drua Academy, highlighted that the players were chosen from the Vodafone Deans Competition and have begun their first two-day camp. The Academy is committed to advancing the players’ natural abilities alongside the rigorous demands of elite-level rugby. It aims to create a pipeline for exceptional players to transition into the Drua Development program, placing them on the brink of joining the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Super Rugby Pacific squad.
This initiative not only strengthens the rugby framework in Fiji but also inspires hope for the future of the sport in the region by investing in youth development and supporting young athletes in realizing their potential.
Summary: The Fijian Drua has launched its Academy, signifying a commitment to developing young rugby talent. With 29 players enrolled from various secondary schools, the Academy will provide specialized training over three years, aiming to create pathways to professional rugby and bolster the sport in Fiji.
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