Ravudi to make Drua debut as Togiatama ruled out with illness against the Brumbies

The Fijian Drua have been forced into a late change to their matchday 23 after hooker Zuriel Togiatama was ruled out due to illness, the club confirmed on matchday. The withdrawal hands an unexpected debut to Sairusi Ravudi, who will start at hooker for the Drua when they face the ACT Brumbies at Four R Stadium.

Togiatama’s illness came too late for a full reshuffle, prompting the selectors to promote Ravudi into the starting front row. Penaia Cakobau has been added to the replacements bench and will provide cover in the number 16 jersey, the squad list shows. The Drua travel to the contest with the altered matchday 23 locked in for a 3.30pm (FJT) kick-off at Four R Stadium.

Ravudi’s elevation marks his first senior appearance for the club. The move gives the young hooker a high-pressure opportunity to stake a claim at set-piece duties and lineout throwing against one of Australia’s established franchises. Cakobau’s inclusion on the bench ensures the Drua retain an experienced option to cover the hooking role should any further disruption occur during the game.

The late change is the latest twist in pre-match preparations, with illness undermining what coaching staff had planned for the front row. Hookers are pivotal to a team’s platform, responsible not only for accurate lineout throws but also for tight exchanges and breakdown work. The Drua will be looking for continuity from their forwards despite the last-minute alteration.

The clash with the ACT Brumbies presents a stern test for the reshuffled pack. The Brumbies, a regular contender in the Australian conference, will be aiming to exploit any instability at the set piece. For Ravudi and the Drua front row, the match offers both a challenge and a chance to quickly build cohesion ahead of the season’s run.

The Drua administration did not provide further medical details on Togiatama’s condition at the time of the announcement. Any additional changes to the squad would be disclosed before kick-off, with the club expected to monitor Togiatama’s recovery and update supporters following the match.