Just a year after turning out in Canberra’s Dent Cup, young back Iosefo Namoce has been named on the bench for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clash with the ACT Brumbies — a selection that could see him make his debut against the very city where he first drew attention.
The Canberra-based Brumbies had monitored Namoce during his stint in club rugby in the Australian capital, but the 23-man matchday inclusion announced on the eve of the game is the first concrete sign that he may step onto the Super Rugby stage. The Drua will host the Brumbies in Ba at 3.30pm tomorrow in what organisers say will be the first-ever Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season match staged in the western town.
“It’s pretty exciting and I’m really up for the game and I hope we’ll see what it becomes,” Namoce said after learning of his selection, describing the prospect of possibly facing a side from the city where he previously played as “even more special.” He added that seeing people gathering at daytime training sessions had heightened the moment — “I’m pretty nervous,” he admitted — underscoring what a step up this opportunity represents.
Namoce also flagged the personal meaning of a potential debut, telling reporters his family were “excited and all ready to come watch me and see how I do it on the big stage now.” Reflecting on the rapid progression from Canberra club rugby to Super Rugby selection, he said he had no regrets about his path and was proud to represent his country and people, noting he still has friends playing in Canberra.
For the Drua, the inclusion of a player who has moved from local club competitions into the Super Rugby environment highlights the franchise’s continued focus on identifying and fast-tracking domestic and regionally based talent. The match in Ba will also be an important moment for local rugby fans: staging a season fixture away from the larger venues in Suva and Lautoka is part of efforts to bring elite rugby closer to provincial communities.
Supporters unable to attend in Ba can watch the fixture live on FBC Sports via the walesi set-top box. Whether Namoce takes the field or not, his elevation to the matchday squad will be tracked closely as a marker of the pathways available to players moving between club rugby in Australia and the professional ranks with the Drua.
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua face the Brumbies at 3.30pm tomorrow in Ba, with kick-off confirmed as part of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific schedule.
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