The Fijian Drua has proudly inaugurated its Academy, welcoming its inaugural group of 29 players, all under 16 years of age. This groundbreaking initiative aims to nurture young rugby talent within Fiji.
The Academy was established as part of the Drua’s commitment to developing a robust pipeline of players. Talented athletes are scouted from various secondary school competitions and are offered contracts to join the Drua. They will participate in several training camps throughout the year at the club’s state-of-the-art facilities in Nadi.
Over a three-year development program, these players will undergo specialized training led by experienced coaches and high-performance staff from the Drua. The first cohort consists of players selected from fifteen local secondary schools, with notable recruitment from Marist Brothers High School, which contributed six players, followed by Suva Grammar School with four.
Mark Evans, the CEO of Fijian Drua, stated that the Academy is designed to discover and cultivate prospective players across the nation, starting this year with Under 16 athletes. The aim is to provide a sustainable pathway into professional rugby.
Ben Takubu, the Programme Lead for the Drua Academy, added that the players were specifically recruited from the Vodafone Deans Competition and passed through a rigorous screening process before beginning their first camp. The program focuses on refining the athletes’ natural talents to prepare them for the challenges of elite-level rugby by the end of high school. Exceptional players may have the chance to advance to the Drua Development program, putting them one step closer to becoming part of the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Super Rugby Pacific squad.
The selected players hail from a variety of schools, showcasing the broad talent pool within the region.
This initiative not only provides vital opportunities for young athletes but also reflects the growing emphasis on youth development in Fijian rugby. It is a promising step for the sport in Fiji, with the potential to enhance the country’s profile on the international rugby stage.
Overall, the launch of the Drua Academy bodes well for the future of rugby in Fiji, as it signals a commitment to nurturing the next generation of rugby talent, giving them a structured pathway to professional careers in sport.
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