A late call-up produced a dream Super Rugby debut for Swire Shipping Fijian Drua hooker Sairusi Ravudi, who crossed for a try after being drafted into the starting XV for the Drua’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific victory over the Brumbies at 4R Electrical Govind Park in Ba. Ravudi’s appearance came after fellow hooker Zuriel Togiatama was ruled unavailable with illness, forcing a late reshuffle that handed the young forward his first taste of top-level rugby.
Head coach Glen Jackson hailed Ravudi’s composure and said the performance underlined the value of the Drua’s development structures. “It was a late call-up, obviously with Zuriel being under the weather, for a kid to turn up like that. And he is a kid, and he’s in our development,” Jackson said, praising how the team had prepared the youngster to step into a high-pressure situation. “Development’s for a reason, to make sure they’re ready for Super Rugby.”
Jackson singled out the contribution of experienced players and staff in preparing the next generation, specifically mentioning veteran Nemani Nadolo’s role in helping young players transition to the professional stage. “I think Nemani Nadolo has done a great job around that and around what we’re trying to do with that young group,” Jackson said, adding that senior teammates such as Virimi have taken responsibility for mentoring emerging talent. “You have Virimi looking after a lot of these young guys and we’re getting a balance of experienced rugby players helping our young men. It’s just great for our club.”
Ravudi’s try — and the way he handled the sudden step up — provides a timely boost for the Drua as they look ahead to another home fixture. The coach described the match as an encouraging “curtain-raiser,” signalling that the club’s strategy of blooding development players in Super Rugby fixtures is beginning to bear fruit. The performance also gives the selection group greater depth at hooker, an area where availability and form can be decisive over a long season.
The Drua’s attention now turns to a Friday-night clash with the Queensland Reds at Churchill Park in Lautoka next week. The game will present another opportunity for younger squad members to stake a claim for regular Super Rugby minutes and for the coaching staff to test the balance between experienced campaigners and the club’s rising prospects.
Ravudi’s breakthrough follows a broader trend within the Drua of promoting homegrown talent into the senior squad. Jackson’s public praise for the development pathway reinforces the club’s message that investment in academy and mentoring programmes is central to sustained competitiveness in Super Rugby Pacific. With a fixture against the Reds looming, Ravudi’s successful debut will be watched as an early indicator of how well the Drua can replenish their ranks mid-season when forced into late changes.
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