AN infusion of the young, experienced and fierce could be deduced from the six new recruits to the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua for the 2026 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season.
The six are Temo Mayanavanua, Iosefo Namoce, Joji Nasova, Angelo Smith, Manasa Mataele and Issak Fines-Leleiwasa.
Sailing with the squad after a stint with the Northampton Saints in England, Mayanavanua’s inclusion is expected to add experience and leadership for the team.
Break-out sevens player Joji Nasova is also part of the Drua, after a dynamic year on the 7s field with a 26 joint-top scorer feat, being a part of the 2025 HSBC SVNS Men’s Dream Team and being a capped Flying Fijian this year.
Iosefo Namoce takes up the centre position, having played for Fiji 7s at the 2024 Oceania 7s in the Solomon Islands and making a mark in local rugby competitions.
In the recent off-season, he played in Canberra’s John I Dent Cup for the Gungahlin Eagles I.
Joining the ranks of the team is Angelo Smith, the former Melbourne Rebels player who at 24-years-old has been eyed for his versatility especially in playing at blindside flanker and had played for Lautoka in the Skipper Cup competition during the off-season.
Former Crusaders player Manasa Mataele, having featured in 58 matches; 32 for the Crusaders, 24 with the Western Force and 2 with the Chiefs, is another sign-up for the Drua.
Adding more depth to the Drua’s pack of fly-halves is Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, the former Western Force and ACT Brumbies sensation who made 45 and 11 appearances for each club respectively.
The squad will also feature 29 capped FIJI Water Flying Fijians players and four development players that have been promoted to the main team.
