The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua team management will give new signing Eroni Sau time to settle in before he plays his first game of Super Rugby.
Sau — nicknamed ‘The Sledgehammer’ for his punishing style in a club career that has included stops in France and Scotland – signed on during the offseason for a return to the Drua, after being part of the team’s run in Australia’s National Provincial Championship in 2018.
Drua head coach Mick Byrne said the Yasawa man would need to go through tests before joining the team training.
“Eroni has just landed in the country. He is going to work through settling his family, work through that process and will join us next week,” Byrne said. “We will go through the normal process when he joins us. That will be with the testings and medicals.
“We expect him to maybe join us on the field next week.”
Sau will miss the Drua’s opening match of the 2023 Shop N Save Super Rugby season against Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Byrne spoke highly of Brisbane-based Wests Bulldogs prop Jone Tiko and young Nadroga winger and Drua development player Taniela Rakuro.
Tiko and Rakuro were this week offered short-term contracts with the Drua.
“We are probably looking at about five to six weeks with their short-term contracts. I think the key there with the those players is obviously we are looking at with our development and the growth within our academy program,” Byrne said.
Rakuro has been named on the bench against Moana. The match kicks off at 3.35pm.
