Swire Shipping Fijian Drua CEO Jack Mesley has moved to quash suggestions that the team’s trademark iBole war dance has been banned from Super Rugby Pacific matches, saying its absence in recent fixtures was driven by player welfare and match logistics, not a prohibition. Mesley confirmed the iBole remains supported by the competition and said organisers have invited the Drua to perform at the upcoming Super Round in Christchurch.
Mesley told reporters heat and player-safety protocols were the primary reason the iBole was not staged at recent home games in Fiji. “Here in Fiji, we have had heat issues,” he said, explaining that extreme temperatures and existing heat protocols limit what can be scheduled around match time so players are not put at risk. He stressed the organisation wants to see the dance return but must balance cultural expression with health considerations.
The absence of the iBole during the Drua’s clash with the Auckland Blues was unrelated to heat rules, Mesley said. That omission came down to timing: a late request to include the performance collided with pre-set run sheets and television schedules, he explained. “In Auckland, that was a different issue. It was a timing issue. The request to do it came through very late and all of the run sheets and the TV had already all been organised.”
As a show of support, Super Rugby has formally invited the Drua to bring the iBole to Christchurch for Super Round, an event Mesley described as an opportunity to present the dance “in front of a full stadium in a couple of weeks’ time.” He said it would be the Drua’s decision whether to accept the invitation, but reiterated a desire to see the ritual at home fixtures “for the rest of the year.”
Looking ahead, Mesley outlined practical steps being explored to make the iBole a regular feature without compromising welfare or broadcast standards. Key measures under discussion include rescheduling more matches to later kickoffs and increasing night fixtures in Fiji, which would reduce daytime heat exposure. That approach raises another challenge: stadium lighting. “We have to look at more night games in Fiji, potentially, and then that comes back to lighting and broadcast quality,” Mesley said, noting organisers and the Drua would need to work together on upgrades.
The clarification comes after public concern and speculation that the cultural display had been curtailed. The iBole is widely regarded as a central element of the Drua’s identity and a highlight for fans; Mesley’s statement frames the issue as one of logistics and player welfare rather than cultural suppression. Discussions on scheduling, infrastructure investment and how best to integrate the performance into televised match programmes are ongoing, with supporters hopeful the iBole will return to both home and neutral-venue stages soon.
Leave a comment