Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne says the side will be looking to pull in around 10 development players into the team over the next two years.
Byrne mentioned this during the post-match press conference in their opening match of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season where they went down 24-10 to the Blues.
“It’s all about growing the team and having more of our locals in the side so we will be looking to bring in around 10 more development players into the side over the next two years,” he said.
Byrne featured one of his four development players, Mesake Vocevoce, during their match against the Blues on Saturday.
“We’ve got four or five academy development players in our squad this year and we’ve already put one of them in Mesake Vocevoce at lock and we’ll probably get a couple more of those young guys push their way in.”
Meanwhile, he said his side would have to start winning away games if they hoped to reach the quarter-finals which they hope to bring down to Fiji.
“We will have to win at least four away games for us to reach the quarters and have it at home.”
Looking at the fan turnout at Drua home games last season, a home game quarter-final this year will be one remembered for the ages.
The Drua faces Moana Pasifika this Saturday for their second match of the season before heading down to Churchill Park on March 9 for their first home game against defending champions Crusaders.
