IT’S a thumbs-up from former Flying Fijians winger Nemani Nadolo, following Fiji’s inclusion into the inaugural Nations Championship next year.
His sentiments come after Fiji was announced as part of the inaugural competition last Monday.
For the former winger now Drua development coach, the timing of the inclusion could not have at a more opportune time.
“I think it’s been really good, and hopefully they prepare well,” Nadolo mentioned.
In welcoming the news of Fiji’s ascension to a new rugby plateau as a tier one nation amongst other equally regarded sides, he highlighted what it took to get there.
“We’ve always pushed for a team like the (Fijian) Drua to be in a professional setup – we’ve got that now,” he explained.
“We’ve got the opportunity for our national team to play in a tier one competition.” As the championship is slated to begin in July 2026, he also reflected on what it would mean for the Flying Fijians outlook to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
“I think it’s great, I think more of this will happen and to have it before the World Cup, I think it’s going to be great for the team,” he said.
Nadolo has wished them well on their path to the championship and their journey to the World Cup.
His sentiments on the matter were shared to Times Sport when we caught up with him during the second day of the Fijian Drua community blitz at Nasau Park in Levuka, Ovalau.
Fiji’s inclusion into the championship comes after what has been a year of breaking new ground and learning experiences for the FIJI Water Flying Fijians.
Fiji, along with Japan, are invitational sides to the competition, a collaboration between the northern hemisphere nations under Six Nations Rugby and the southern hemisphere teams under SANZAAR.
