The Fiji Times

Drua done with recruitment for next season

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua is always on the look-out for overseas based Fijian qualified players. This according to Drua CEO Mark Evans. However, Evans while responding to questions during a press conference on Wednesday revealed that the Nadi based side was more or less done with their signings for next season. “We have pretty...

Development players set to join main squad

Six players from the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua development squad are expected to make the main squad for next season. Drua CEO Mark Evans revealed this during a press conference in Nadi on Wednesday. “Six guys who were in development this year are going to be in the main 37-member squad for next year,” he...

Harris: We need to get better

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua assistant coach Brad Harris believes the players should dominate in every aspect of the game when they take on the Reds in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clash at the HFC Bank Stadium tomorrow. “We reviewed our performance against Moana Pasifika and looked at the areas we can get...

Playoff race intensifies

Moana Pasifika is the only team that can’t make the playoffs heading into the final round of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season. The Highlanders, Fijian Drua, and Rebels were all ranked 9th to 11th last week and won in round 14 to revive their top eight prospects. The Chiefs have secured the top spot...

Former Wallabies players inspire students

Students of Wailevu West District School in Cakaudrove, Vanua Levu got to meet former Wallabies players Radike Samo and Lote Tuqiri in celebrating overcoming adversity and challenges on Wednesday. The Fijian Rugby legends were accompanied by Queensland Reds players Isaac Henry and Joanna Rabaka who held fun-filled rugby activities for both the primary and senior...

Masi creates history

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua outside centre Iosefo Masi created history last weekend by being the first Drua player to score three-tries in a single match against Moana Pasifika in Churchill Park, Lautoka. Assistant coach Brad Harris said the 25-year old had been fantastic for them in this year’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season....

Last-ditch gamble | New backline formation unleashed in must-win clash

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne has made a few positional changes to his starting line-up that will face the Reds tomorrow in their last regular season match of the 2023 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season. Outgoing inside centre Kalaveti Ravouvou moves to left wing while Teti Tela starts at inside...

Committee pleased with commitment

With the Ram Sami Nasinu Rugby Football Union club competition coming to an end, committee member Akuila Rokobuli is pleased with the level of commitment shown by clubs within its union for this season. “We only have 11 clubs within our union taking part in the weekly competitions,” said Rokobuli. “We’ve completed our round-robin competitions...

Fijiana qualify for World 15s

The Vodafone Fijiana 15s has qualified for World 15s after winning its opening two matches at the Rugby Women’s Championship in Australia. The Fijiana, which thrashed Tonga 45-12, in its second match on Tuesday night, qualified alongside Samoa. The final will decide whether we compete in Tier 2 or 3 at the World 15 tournament....

Company extends sponsorship deal

The major sponsor of Fijian Drua side- Swire Shipping announced the extension of its support as exclusive naming rights sponsor for a further two years yesterday. According to Swire Shipping regional manager for Pacific Islands Alex Pattison said this partnership reinforces Swire Shipping’s longstanding commitment to the communities of Fiji and to aid the development...

Pressure mounts | Make-or-break moment for Fijian Drua in playoff push

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side is focusing on what is within its control as it prepares for the much important clash against the Reds in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific this Saturday. Assistant coach Brad Harris said the team is not distracted by the pressure of losing out on a spot in...

Swire Shipping extends naming rights sponsorship of Fijian Drua

Swire Shipping has announced the extension of its exclusive naming rights sponsorship of the Fijian Drua for a further two years. “We are delighted to extend our partnership with the Fijian Drua for two more years,” Swire Shipping’s Regional Manager for the Pacific Islands Alex Pattison said in a statement. “As a longstanding supporter of...

Nute out to restore Suva’s lost glory

The Suva Rugby Union is ready for this year’s Skipper Cup competition and head coach Solomoni Nute said his players had been preparing well for the past few weeks. Nute said they aimed to restore the lost glory and stamp their mark in local rugby. “We have been preparing well for the past four weeks,”...

Overcoming rugby and school work

Trying to balance rugby and school work is no easy feat but with determination and good time management, everything is possible. This is the message 23-year-old Jason Iakoba would like to share with young rugby players in the country. The young lad from Rabi with maternal links to Nasinu, Cakaudrove ran out at second-five eighth...

Last game to be a cracker

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players will need to back themselves up and play footy to fulfill their top 8 target from the start of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific this season. And that’s what the season plan from the coaches coming down on the pitch every day. With a good coaching staff,...

Derenalagi calls for Drua fans to come out in numbers

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua skipper Meli Derenalagi is calling out to the people of Fiji to come out in numbers and support the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side when they take on the Reds in their last home game in Fiji this weekend. The Fijian Drua players will have another shot at qualifying for the...

Moce mada Noa | Friends bid farewell

Known by those she was close to as ‘Noa’, dad Tevita Kunatuba in an emotional service filled with players from rugby background, said he raised a tough and determined Elenoa. Following a dream about women’s rugby and a vision to change perspectives and mindsets, Tevita said his daughter, no matter the obstacles she faced or...

Hooper doubtful on Wallabies future after World Cup

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australia flanker Michael Hooper remains undecided on his playing future but doubts that it includes a Wallabies jersey beyond this year’s World Cup. Hooper, who will play his last home match for the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday, is open to another stint overseas after playing in Japan in 2021, or...

Tacirua downs Colo-i-Suva; off to semis

Tacirua rugby has booked its spot in the Ram Sami Nasinu Rugby Football Union club competition semi-finals after beating a tough Colo-i-Suva side 10-6. Head coach Timoci Tikoisuva said they had to dig deep for the win. “It was a really tough game against our counterparts from Colo-i-Suva. They really pushed us to the wire...

Maroons outclass Marist; coach Malumu impressed

The Nabua Maroons side outclassed their opponents from the Marist Rugby Club by 29-15 in round eight of the Suva Rugby Union FMF Escott Shield competition at Bidesi ground in Laucala Bay yesterday. Maroons coach Jim Malumu said it was a tough clash with the team from Flagstaff but he was happy with the performance...

Thank you coach Noa, mentor and friend

The architect of Fiji women’s rugby rise to stardom, a woman of immense rugby passion and the coach ‘that every woman rugger runs to with their problem’ is no more. That and many others are the solemn words used to describe the great legacy left behind by former national player and coach Elenoa Kunatuba who...

Super Rugby Pacific | Best for last … Fijian Drua banks on 16th player in game against Reds

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua fans will not get a chance to see their team play at home, for at least the next nine months, after their last regular season match against the Reds in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific this Saturday. While the team is aiming for a spot in the playoffs, Fijian...

Minister visits Bolaca

Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru paid a visit to Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Napolioni Bolaca at his residence in Saweni in Lautoka on Saturday. Bolaca, who returned from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery in New Zealand, was grateful to the minister and his staff for taking time-off from their busy schedule to...

Army beats Topline; moves to second position

Army moved to second position in the Lautoka Club Rugby competition standings after defeating Topline by 21-5 at Nadovu Park in Lautoka during round five on Saturday. In a tense first half, both teams were physical in their approach to the game, with the forward pack going against each other. The score at the breather...

Super Rugby Pacific | Masi stars in victory

A sizzling hat-trick to find of the season Iosefo Masi has propelled the Fijian Drua to a dramatic one-point victory over Moana Pasifika on Saturday and kept alive their slim hopes of an historic quarter-final spot in Super Rugby Pacific at Churchill Park in Lautoka. The big moment Moana kept coming back at the Drua...

Fijian Drua stands strong | Skipper commends teammates for holding the fort

Fijian Drua skipper Meli Derenalagi said they had expected the Moana Pacifica to come out hard during their clash at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday. The Swire Shipping-sponsored side managed to rekindle their chances at the quarter-finals after scraping past the Moana Pasifika 47-46. “We knew they would be very physical and quick in...

Farrell to the fore as Saracens triumph again

LONDON (Reuters) – Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall poured praise on man of the match Owen Farrell after the flyhalf inspired the London club to a 35-25 victory over a gritty Sale in the English Premiership final on Saturday. The game had been widely billed as a showdown between Farrell and opposite number George...

Protesters invade pitch and briefly hold up Premiership final

LONDON (Reuters) – The English Premiership rugby final between Saracens and Sale at Twickenham was briefly held up on Saturday when Just Stop Oil protesters invaded the pitch and released orange powder. Three protesters ran onto the pitch 15 minutes into the match and, against a chorus of boos from the crowd, released powder in...

Saracens claim sixth title with 35-25 victory over Sale

LONDON (Reuters) -Saracens won their sixth title and first in four years when they eventually overpowered a spirited Sale to triumph 35-25 in a superb English Premiership final at a sun-drenched Twickenham on Saturday. Saracens, who finished top of the standings in the regular season, led 20-18 at halftime after a penalty try and one...

Rugby

Brace for another thrilling showdown