JD Sivivatu Kanth’s rugby journey has come full circle this year, after being named in the Fijian Drua development squad.
Originally from Macuata, Vanua Levu, with maternal ties to Nauru, Kanth first visited the Drua homebase in 2022 as a member of the Nauru sevens team.
“It was in 2022 that I first came here with the Nauru sevens team. We came to watch the boys train, and I took a picture with one of the captains at the time, (Ratu) Meli Derenalagi,” he said.
Despite the rigorous training sessions, the young forward has relished the opportunity to test himself at one of the premier professional rugby clubs in the Pacific Islands.
“And now I’m back as a development player with the Fijian Drua. Training has been tough, but I’ve been loving it and will keep working hard,” he added.
So far, the former Ratu Navula College student says he has learned a great deal in the short time he has spent with the team, lessons he believes will help him turn his passion for rugby into a successful career.
“I’ve learned how to take care of myself and my body as a professional rugby player, and I’ve picked up new skills from the senior players,” he said.
Kanth has enjoyed a remarkable rise, having started with an AFL background while in Nauru before relocating to Fiji in 2023 to attend Ratu Navula College in Nadi.
Despite transitioning from AFL, Sivivatu adapted quickly to rugby and made an immediate impact.
In 2023, he represented Ratu Navula College Under-18, Nadi Rugby Union U20, the Nauru national team, and the Pacific Mana Academy.
His rapid development and work ethic earned him opportunities with Sunnybank Dragons Senior Rugby in Australia, inclusion in the Queensland Reds extended squad, and later a professional contract with VPC Andorra Rugby XV in Spain.
