Two new flyhalves were named today in the sixth wave of the signing of players during a Zoom conference for the Fijian Drua’s inaugural season with the Super Rugby Pacific next year.
Fijian Drua interim chief executive Brian Thorburn announced Tuidraki Samusamuvodre bracketed for flyhalf/fullback and Teti Tela as flyhalf/inside centre as part of the seven players who have signed for the new franchise.
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Fiji Airways Fijiana sevens coach Saiasi Fuli was very wary of the opposition in the pool of death his team is facing against traditional champions New Zealand, the US and England in Pool C this weekend.
“It’s a very tough pool, it’s the pool of death in this Langford tournament,” Fuli said from Langford on Vancouver Island in an FRU media conference.
“We have New Zealand, New Zealand is back, they have been absent for the past four tournaments due to Covid restrictions and the pandemic that affected New Zealand and then they are back,” Fuli said.
“They are the undisputed champions for the past few years and we are pooled with the US who won one of the tournaments in Spain and the entertaining and young English team that played well in both tournaments in Spain.”
The US won gold at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Malaga in Spain and England were bronze medallists at the Seville tournament the week before also in Spain in January.
“Yeah we’re here in Langford, a beautiful city here in Victoria, it’s good that we’re back after the cancellation in the back to back Spain tournaments, it’s quite hard that we had to stay in Fiji but it’s good that we had some rugby,” Fuli said.
“We had six tournaments in Fiji and now we are back in the world 7s arena and ready to play this weekend in the Langford 7s.
“It’s a challenging week for us, we have prepared well doing our homework and doing some research and analysis with our full opposition but it’s good back playing in the international sevens tournament,” Fuli said.
“To have a tough pool it’s very challenging for us.
“It is what it is and we have to focus, prepare well for this Langford tournament.
“I know that there is a lot of talk in regards to our pool but that is rugby.
“To have that competitive nature and quality opposition; it’s good for us it’s good for the tournament and we’re ready and ready to play in that group that has New Zealand, USA and England.”
The three pools format has Australia and Ireland named top seeds of Pool A and Pool B respectively with England as Malaga champions named as the top seed in Pool C.
Pool A has Australia, Canada, Spain and Mexico; while Pool B has Ireland, France, Brazil and Japan.
The Fijiana sevens team plays the USA at 4.30am (FT) on Sunday opening the Langford tournament at Starlight Stadium in Langford outside Victoria, British Columbia.
A huge stream of protest has been generated on social media concerning the comment by the Fijian Drua chief executive Brian Thorburn that the first Drua game on Fiji soil would not be telecast live on free to air television.
“Vacava o keimami na tu mai veiyanuyanu keimami via sarava talega na qito (what about us, the people from the outer islands, we would also want to watch the match),” a comment on Facebook said.
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The Fijiana Drua were looking to create history against a Waratahs side who held the Super W trophy since inception.
The Fijiana Drua were deserved winners as they powered home with a late rally whilst the Waratahs will be gutted after their second-half comeback just fell short.
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The Fijian Drua have confirmed the signing of Reds outside back Ilaisa Droasese with immediate effect after he was released from his contract.
Droasese made his debut for the Reds in 2021, instantly making an impression as he scored off the bench during their round one win over the Waratahs in Super Rugby AU.
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The Fijiana Drua have claimed the Super W title in a thrilling 32-26 victory over the NSW Waratahs at AAMI Park.
The game went down to the wire as the Waratahs staged a comeback, with NZ import Natalie Delamare crossing for a hat-trick.
However, the Drua refused to give up and backed by a strong Fijian crowd, hit the front with nine to go through Timaima Ravisa.
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Rooster Fijiana Drua head coach Senirusi Seruvakula says the team that was focused mentally and physically for the 80 minutes will win the final of the Australian Super W competition.
“Both teams want to go out there and win but the team that focuses mentally and physically for the 80 minutes will win the game,” Seruvakula said in an interview by the Fiji Rugby Union yesterday.
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Now for the other lot. And not before time.
This week the six New Zealand-based franchises travel across the Tasman for Super Rugby Pacific’s “super round” in Melbourne, where they will play Australian-based opponents for the first time in 2022.
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Day one of round six on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series men’s circuit in Vancouver, Canada, threw up some great rugby on Saturday.
In the end, Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina won their pools to progress to the Cup quarter-finals at BC Place along with runners-up England, Samoa, Australia and France.
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All 16 core teams on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series have arrived in Vancouver this week ahead of the highly anticipated HSBC Canada Sevens on 17-18 April at BC Place stadium.
The team captains visited the Chief Joe Mathias Center in North Vancouver on Wednesday where they were greeted by a Squamish First Nation Elder and met Squamish artist Ray Natraoro who has designed the medals for this year’s tournament.
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Fiji’s victory at the Singapore Sevens last weekend was remarkable on a number of levels.
The Olympic champions were playing in their first World Series tournament since Dubai and were given a rude awakening with a first-ever defeat to Ireland in their opening game.
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