Rob Valetini will mark a personal and local milestone when he runs out for his 100th Shop N Save Super Rugby appearance tomorrow — and for the first time that occasion will come on Fijian soil. The ACT Brumbies forward, who hails from Kadavu, said he had hoped earlier in the season to reach the century in Fiji so he could share the moment with extended family, and about 40 relatives are expected to fill the stands in Ba for the fixture.
“It means a lot. I saw the game earlier in the year and I sort of wanted to try and have it here in Fiji. All my family’s here and I had to get around 40 tickets, so there’ll be a lot of family there tomorrow. I’m really excited for the day and hopefully I can perform well in front of everyone,” Valetini told reporters. He added that while he had wished to mark the match by facing his younger brother, that bout will have to wait for another day. Simply playing in Fiji for the first time, he said, will make the occasion “something special.”
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will host the Brumbies in what is also the first Super Rugby match ever held at Ba, with kick-off scheduled for 3.35pm local time and live coverage on FBC Sports. The setting adds another layer of significance: the Drua have built a reputation for thriving in tropical conditions and in front of passionate home crowds, making Ba a challenging venue for visiting sides.
Valetini acknowledged the difficulty ahead for the Brumbies beyond the personal milestone. “Not many teams win here. It’s a tough team to play in tough conditions. We didn’t get a win last week so it’ll be important for us to bounce back and try to stay on top of the table,” he said. The Brumbies are chasing a crucial result as they seek to recover from last week’s loss and consolidate their position near the top of the Super Rugby Pacific standings.
The fixture is being framed as both a test of the Brumbies’ resilience and an opportunity for several players to stake a claim for the remainder of the season. “I think the boys are ready. We’ve been preparing well and a lot of the boys are ready to rip in tomorrow,” Valetini said, emphasising the squad’s collective intent despite the personal spotlight.
For Valetini, the day will be about more than statistics. He described the match as a chance to celebrate family, culture and his Fijian heritage on a platform he has not previously experienced first-hand. The combination of a century of Super Rugby appearances, the novelty of playing at home, and the historic nature of Ba hosting its first Super Rugby match ensures tomorrow’s game will be remembered long after the final whistle.
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