The Fijian Drua team has pushed its travel dates to Australia to November in a bid to avoid the mandatory quarantine period.
The team was initially supposed to fly out to Sydney on Saturday spending two weeks in hotel quarantine before marching to its base camp for the start of its preparation phase for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific competition.
Fijian Drua interim chief executive officer Brian Thorburn said they had been in close contact with the Australian authorities and the New South Wales government and were delighted to keep the team in Fiji up until November 4 following which they would go directly to Australia without the need to quarantine.
Thorburn said this would require full vaccination and COVID-19 test clearance 72 hours prior to travel.
“That avoids our players having to be stuck in hotel rooms for two weeks,” he said.
“It is better in terms of the team’s performance because we can continue with the work we have been doing on medical assessments. It saves us a bit of money that we would have spent for quarantine in Australia.”
The Fijian Drua has signed up 27 players. Thorburn said another five players would be named tomorrow.
“For the remaining players, we are keeping our options open monitoring some medical issues and eligibility.”
The following players have already been signed up: Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Apisalome Vota, Kitione Taliga, Isoa Nasilasila, Rusiate Nasove, Ratu Leone Rotuisolia, Manasa Saulo, Samuela Tawake, Kitione Salawa Junior, Sorovakatini Tuifagalele, Joseva Tamani, Kalione Nasoko, Jone Koroiduadua, Ratu Peni Matawalu, Chris Minimbi, Raikabula Momoedonu, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Ratu Meli Derenalagi, Serupepeli Vularika, Meli Tuni, Vinaya Habosi, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Napolioni Bolaca, Nemani Nagusa, Tevita Ikanivere, Simione Kuruvoli, Onisi Ratave.
