QUEEN Victoria School fly half and sprint champion Jone Raibevu has taken another major step towards professional rugby after earning a place in the Fijian Drua development squad through the club’s grassroots talent pathway.
The Kalabu, Naitasiri youngster was identified during the Drua foundation’s talent scouting program in 2024 and has since progressed through the club’s junior development system.
Raibevu said the opportunity came as a surprise.
“I was really surprised when I got the call about the opportunity. I was also excited when the Drua committee told me that I’ll be joining the Drua development next season,” Raibevu said.
The teenager first caught the attention of Drua scouts during the 2024 Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Eastern Zone competition before being selected into the inaugural Fijian Drua junior development programme.
One of Raibevu’s most memorable and impressive performance came while representing Queen Victoria School when, at just 16-years-old, he successfully slotted a remarkable 57m penalty kick, in the final of the Eastern Zone Vodafone Deans Trophy competition.
The long-range effort highlighted not only the fly-half’s powerful boot but also the composure and confidence that have made him one of Fiji’s most promising emerging playmakers.
Away from rugby, Raibevu has also excelled in athletics. The Queen Victoria School student won the prestigious blue-ribbon event at the Tailevu Zone athletics competition.
Fijian Drua chief executive Jeff Miller said Raibevu’s rise reflected the success of the club’s development pathway.
“Jone’s signing is another great example of what can be achieved when the Fiji Rugby Union and the Drua invest in identifying and developing young Fijian talent at an early age,” Miller said.
The Drua Foundation was established to strengthen rugby development throughput Fiji by identifying promising young players, providing access to quality coaching and helping remove barriers for talented athletes from communities across the country.
