SWIRE Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Glen Jackson has publicly urged fans to rally behind fullback Ilaisa Droasese after the player faced a wave of criticism on social media over a costly error in the team’s Super Round clash with the Chiefs in Christchurch last week. Jackson described the mistake as a simple misjudgement and said the club has prioritised Droasese’s wellbeing as it seeks to protect players from undue public pressure.
Jackson said Droasese believed a loose ball was a knock-on and acted accordingly. “I think he thought it was a knock on, which it wasn’t, so if Droasese had his time again, I feel sorry for the kid,” Jackson said. He pointed to Droasese’s form this season and stressed the error should be weighed against the fullback’s broader contribution to the side. “He’s been unbelievable for us this year and to have a moment like that is not good for anyone.”
Acknowledging fan disappointment, Jackson made clear his priority as coach is the player’s welfare and the team’s ability to move on. “I know Fijians and people who watch it don’t like what they see, but for me as a head coach, I’ve just got to make sure the player’s okay and understand why he did it,” he said, adding that the squad had accepted the incident and turned its focus quickly to improvements.
The Drua camp, Jackson said, has rallied around Droasese. He highlighted strong internal support networks including teammates, coaching staff and the team’s sports psychologist, Gaylene Osbourne. “There’s a lot of support within our team. We’ve got 50 young men together and they’re backing him well. Our sports psychologist Gaylene Osbourne has also been amazing,” Jackson said, noting the importance of mental-health resources in high-pressure competitions.
Jackson also reminded fans of Droasese’s credentials, pointing to his leadership role for Fiji en route to a quarter-final and calling him “one of the best fullbacks in the team.” He urged supporters to remember that errors are part of rugby and that singling out an individual for one mistake undermines team cohesion. “Yes, it’s one incident he’d love to take back, but every rugby player makes mistakes. I just hope the public understand this is a great young man and he needs positive vibes to play good rugby,” he said.
As the Drua prepare for their next fixture, Jackson reiterated the squad’s unity and determination to protect its players from online vitriol while responding on the field. His comments are the latest development in the fallout from the Super Round error, signalling a coaching-led effort to manage player welfare and public reaction as the team moves forward.