Former Flying Fijians winger Nemani Nadolo is excited for the future after the inclusion of the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua into the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season.
The Drua are turning heads in their second year of competition and the Namatakula, Nadroga lad said it’s good to see young talent coming up the ranks.
“As a Fijian, it’s good to see a professional team come out of Fiji and to see young talent come through makes me happy,” said Nadolo while speaking to commentator Greg Clark in a podcast.
“It makes me proud because it’s something we’ve always wanted. We obviously have the Fiji Warriors and the Drua team that played in the National Rugby Competition (NRC) in Australia,” Nadolo added.
“For it to happen is kind of like a fairy-tale story and it still is.
“You’d always hear stories of kids coming on the plane for the first time then you put them on a plane to New Zealand for a rugby trip and they score two tries.
“These guys are farmers and policemen and to see them go from that to a professional environment is a feel-good story.
“I know I speak for all Fijians around the world, we are proud as a country to finally have a professional outfit that can compete in the elite level.”
The former Crusaders winger has been impressed with the performances shown by number 8 and Drua captain, Meli Derenalagi who has stamped his mark in both his physicality and leadership qualities.
“I’m really impressed with Meli Derenalagi this season,” said Nadolo. “His leadership has impressed me and he’s fairly young as well so he’s got a big task leading his troops around.
“Being a captain in a Fijian team is never easy and I’ve seen it first-hand. “He’s been injured for a while but when he came back in, he leads through his actions and the scary thing is that he is only going to get better.
“They have set a fortress at home and to have Meli lead them at home, its hard to play in let alone play against them.”
