Sports commentator Greg Clark, who co-authored the book that chronicled the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua, was highly enthusiastic in retelling his experience of working with key women in the franchise.
Speaking at Damodar City, Suva on Wednesday night, he recounted the journey of the Fijiana Drua side from its humble beginnings.
“I love the chapter where I interviewed so many women who were there from day one, trying to promote the women’s game,” Clark recalled.
“They had to go through all sorts of things, had to jump so many hurdles but now they are accepted as rugby players and they’re part of the Fijian Drua environment.”
The Fijiana Drua side voyaged into their inaugural tournament in the Super W competition in 2022, and won the tournament outright, in an impressive outing that earned them the respect of rugby fans, pundits and seasoned players here and abroad.
Clark added the team has since shown a formidable picture as well.
“We know that they won a couple of titles in Australia, and we know that Fiji are going to be at Women’s Rugby World Cup, with the next one coming up in England next year.”
He said the country was now in a position where it could lessen its dependability on overseas platforms to advance the capability of professional players playing locally as well.
The side successfully defended their Super W title from 2022 to 2023, however they fell short of their conquest this year and were the runner up instead, losing to the NSW Waratahs 14-50.
