There exists a significant disparity in conditioning and game speed between players participating in the Skipper Cup and those competing in the Super Rugby Pacific league. This was highlighted by Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne during an interview with SUNsports. He explained that Naitasiri hooker Kavaia Tagivetaua is the sole locally-based provincial player included in the Flying Fijians squad for the Pacific Nations Cup.
Byrne emphasized the need for a professional training environment, stating, “At this early stage, we are having a full professional rugby setup, where players can train in the morning and focus solely on rugby.” He expressed the challenge of ensuring that Skipper Cup teams elevate their fitness levels to meet the required standard.
The coach looks forward to collaborating with Skipper Cup coaches to bridge the gap between the two competitions. He mentioned receiving valuable scientific feedback from players in the Skipper Cup, which highlighted their energy levels and performance metrics. Byrne is optimistic about the potential talent coming from the Skipper Cup for the Fijian Warriors program and hopes some players could also join the Drua franchise.
In addition, the selection of France-based Adrea Cocagi for the Flying Fijians aims to strengthen the second-five eighth position. Cocagi, who plays prominently for Castres in the Top 14, is known for his strong running ability in the midfield. Byrne is eager for Cocagi’s participation in the upcoming campaign and noted that the Pacific Nations Cup would serve as an opportunity to assess the players’ capabilities.
Byrne also mentioned that hooker Zuriel Togiatama was not selected due to family obligations in Auckland, New Zealand. He acknowledged the contributions of Simione Kuruvoli, who has been active since the World Cup, stating that Kuruvoli deserves some time to be with his family.
The 30-member Flying Fijians squad is scheduled to report to camp tomorrow.