Fiji Water Flying Fijians winger Selestino Ravutaumada is set to miss a few weeks of rugby due to an injury. This update was provided by FIJI Water Flying Fijians Head Coach Mick Byrne.
“Selestino had surgery last Monday, and we are in touch with Drua. It was quite a severe injury, with a lot of prior damage that we’ve repaired. He is now on a rehabilitation program for a couple of weeks,” Byrne stated. He added that Ravutaumada needs to remain in close contact with his surgeon to manage his post-surgery care. “He is in good spirits, but obviously, it’s disappointing for him,” Byrne confirmed.
Despite Ravutaumada’s absence, the team’s morale appears high. Byrne mentioned the positive atmosphere following training sessions in Nadi before their departure to Japan for the semi-finals. “The mood is very good. We’ve had a couple of productive days in Nadi, and there’s a lot of camaraderie and laughter among the team,” he said.
The coach expressed satisfaction that the rest of the squad is in good health. “We’ve had two solid days of training in Nadi. Everyone is fit, and after traveling, we will conduct a medical check this afternoon, followed by training tomorrow, so at this stage, everyone is in good shape,” he added.
However, Byrne expressed disappointment regarding the absence of Mesake Vocevoce and Andrea Cocagi. Due to tournament rules, they are unable to replace Cocagi, which Byrne described as unfortunate. He also noted that Vocevoce is unavailable due to personal issues back home, conveying his support for him.
“I’m sure the players will make him proud when we step onto the field for the semi-final on Saturday. We have four locks in camp, and three are ready to play,” Byrne stated. The Flying Fijians will be leaning on the experience of the remaining squad members, especially Nasilasila, to fill in the gaps left by the missing players.