The Fijian Drua has officially signed Maleli Nauvasi, a standout player from the Vodafone Deans competition, to its Development program. Nauvasi, a center from Queen Victoria School, played a crucial role in leading his team to victory in the U-18 title in 2024 and was named player of the match during the final against Nasinu Secondary School.
Nauvasi’s signing aligns with the Fijian Drua’s renewed emphasis on identifying and nurturing local talent at an early stage, with an aim to guide these young athletes towards potential professional contracts with the Super Rugby Pacific squad. Hailing from Dratabu in Nadi, he was recently part of the Fiji Schoolboys U18 team that defeated the Australian Schoolboys U18 in two matches, where he scored a try and provided an assist.
Having represented QVS in the Deans competition from U14 to U18 levels, Nauvasi has experience playing as a flyhalf, wing, and fullback. Expressing his enthusiasm about joining the program, Nauvasi stated, “I’m really excited to be part of the Development program here at the Drua, especially staying close to my parents. I am very happy for this opportunity.”
Ifereimi Rawaqa, the Development and Skills Coach for the Fijian Drua, welcomed Nauvasi, praising his natural talent and discipline on the field. Rawaqa expressed confidence in Nauvasi’s potential to make a significant impact with the right support and guidance, emphasizing the valuable opportunity for him to train alongside elite athletes and understand the demands of competing at a high level.
The Drua’s Development program aims to equip young players like Nauvasi with essential resources, coaching, and a high-performance environment to ease their transition to professional rugby. He joins a group of ten other promising players in the Drua Development squad, and his development contract ensures he is compensated while training regularly with the Super Rugby Pacific squad. Additionally, development players have the opportunity to compete for provincial sides in the Skipper Cup, which runs concurrently with the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific.