The Fiji Times

Rawaqa names squad | Baselala expected to play vital role at rugby championship

Fijian Drua halfback Philip Baselala has been named in the Fiji Under-20 squad to take part in the World Rugby Championship to be held in South Africa later this month. Head Coach Ifereimi Rawaqa has named an exciting 30-member squad for the tournament. Rawaqa said it had not been an easy selection for him and...

Good start | Byrne maps Fijian Drua’s quarter-final plan

A good start is needed, if the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua is to topple the Crusaders in the quarter-final of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific this Saturday. Coach Mick Byrne is adamant his team can get results if they start the match well. “We are just looking to bring a real physicality to...

Nasinu ready for final

Nasinu has played Naitasiri twice in the Royal Tea Ranadi competition and they are prepared for their third clash – the grand final this Saturday at Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori at 11am. Both teams have been promoted to the 2024 ANZ Marama Championship after successfully winning their semi-final games last week. Naitasiri defeated Northland 27-12,...

Special flight for historic match

Good news for Swire Shipping Fijian Drua fans. National carrier Fiji Airways has put together a ‘Super Rugby Fan Experience’ package for Fijians to cheer from the stands during the historic quarter-final match against the Crusaders in Christchurch. The Drua face the defending Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific champions at Orangetheory Stadium and Fiji...

Cold awaits flying Drua | Byrne calls on Fijians in New Zealand to flood stadium

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne says the low temperatures in Christchurch on Saturday will not affect his side in the quarter-finals of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific against the Crusaders. Temperatures from six to 11 degrees Celsius are expected when the two teams meet on Saturday evening. Byrne said his team...

A step up! | Byrne: Finals footy a whole new game

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side will not be riding on their 25-24 regular season win when they take on the Crusaders in the quarter-finals of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific this Saturday. The Drua travel to Christchurch this week to play in its first ever quarterfinal after joining the competition last year....

Fijiana lose Oceania title

The Vodafone Fijiana XVs side will play in the tier three of the World Rugby WXV after failing to defend their Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship title in the final against Samoa on the Gold Coast in Australia on Sunday. Samoa’s Manusina XV side created history by winning the championship for the first time after edging...

Ready the sails! Drua test uncharted waters in first Super Rugby Pacific finals

The HFC Bank Stadium was covered in a sea of blue as the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua showcased a masterpiece of success against the Reds in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition. Like strokes of brilliance on a canvas, their journey illuminated the hearts of rugby enthusiasts across the nation and the world....

Super Rugby Pacific | Fijian Drua exceeds target

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua coaching management set a target of 50 tries for their regular season this year, but with a spot in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals this weekend, the Drua are likely to add more to that number. They scored a total of 30 tries in their inaugural season...

Skipper shares secret to win

FAITH in God and the support of fans played a huge part in the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua team’s win against the Reds last week. Skipper Meli Derenalagi said this allowed the team to reach a historic Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals berth in only their second year in the competition. The side...

Five things we learnt from Fijian Drua-Reds

Celebrating the success of the Fijian Drua’s bold rise to the play-offs in just their second season was the huge upside to events in Suva. The massive down side was watching the Queensland Reds slip, sliding away to a 41-17 loss to leave their 2023 record at a lame 5-9. There was so much to...

Former teammates in awe of Masi’s rise

The former team mates of Swire Shipping Fijian Drua outside centre Iosefo Masi are in awe of how far the 25-year old has come in his debut season. He is ranked among the best of the best in the 2023 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season and his team mates from the Eastern Saints...

Fijian Drua into Super Rugby Pacific quarters, Pasifika get first win

The Fijian Drua have made history by reaching the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals in only their second season with a 43-17 win over the Reds in Suva. The Mick Byrne-coached team have achieved the near impossible thanks to a Herculean second-half effort where they raced in 26 unanswered points after being held to 17-17 at...

Worth every cent!

“It was worth every cent.” This is how Swire Shipping Fijian Drua supporter Siteri Tagilala described her experience of watching the Drua hammer the Reds 41-17 at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday. “I am here watching the Drua with my work colleagues and I’ve got to say, this was the greatest experience...

Fijian Drua face Crusaders

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will have a mammoth task this Saturday in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals as they take on reigning champions Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch at 7.05pm. With results from their last encounter in Christchurch in 2022 favouring the hosts in a walloping 61-3 victory, Crusaders head...

Thorn praises home side

Reds head coach Brad Thorn praised the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side for their superb performance on Saturday night, after going down 17-41 -17 to the men in blue at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. “They were able to build pressure on us from the beginning, building momentum, which makes them very difficult to...

Byrne dedicates win to late dad

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne dedicated their 41-17 win over the Reds on Saturday to his late father who passed away on Friday. Byrne left his family behind in Australia since taking up the role in September 2021 and took some time off from work last week to travel back to Australia...

A high point | Drua playoffs qualification a coaching highlight, says Byrne

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne says their historic Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals berth is one of the highlights of his coaching career. The Drua beat the Reds 41-17 on Saturday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva and will take on the Crusaders next week in the quarter-finals, and...

Namosi dedicates win to late coach

The Namosi women’s rugby team had booked its spot in the final of the ANZ Marama Championship this year after beating Yasawa 36-22 in Prince Charles Park, Nadi yesterday. The side will play Suva in the final after the Capital City girls beat Navosa 48-5. Namosi Skipper Laisani Navukaro said their win yesterday would not...

Skipper commends brothers

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua skipper Meli Derenalagi describes the 41-17 win over the Reds as an emotional one as they have secured a spot in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific quarter finals next week. “It’s quite an emotional win for the players and I as we were excited to play in front of...

Paul hopes to follow sibling

“He is my biggest inspiration.” These were the words of Paul Dolokoto, the younger brother of Swire Shipping Fijian Drua prop Mesulame Dolokoto, while watching him play against the Reds last night. Paul, who is also a member of the Fiji Warriors side just returned from Samoa after winning the World Rugby Pacific Challenge. “He’s...

Tamani shines in final Drua home game

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua lock Joseva Tamani had a memorable last match in front of home fans scoring a try to seal a 41-17 win against the Reds to help secure his side a spot in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific playoffs. Tamani is set to leave the Drua at the end of...

Byrne, Drua reflects on historic finals berth

From the VFL to Fijian rugby, Mick Byrne rates his latest feat among the most special after the Drua earned a Super Rugby Pacific finals berth and dedicated it to the Australian coach’s late father. The Drua ran rampant in the second half on Saturday in Suva, scoring 24 unanswered points to beat the Queensland...

11,000km trip to watch Fijian Drua

Pablo Donvido and his mates travelled more than 11,000km from Argentina to Suva to watch the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua take on the Queensland Reds at the HFC Bank Stadium yesterday. “I have always loved watching rugby from when I was a child, and coming all this way to watch Fiji play is just amazing,”...

Electric atmosphere hits Vueta, cousins

“Electric” was how Kadavu lad Lasarusa Vueta described the atmosphere at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva yesterday. He said watching the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua take it to the Queensland Reds in the company of his cousins was nothing short of exhilarating. “It’s really fun and exciting watching our boys play, here at their...

Family travels early for match

The family members of Swire Shipping Fijian Drua player Kalaveti Ravouvou came out in numbers to watch their son play his last home game for the Nadi-based side as they beat the Reds 41-17 at the HFC Bank Stadium. Ravouvou’s uncle, Mesake Lalai said it was pleasing to see his nephew play his heart out...

Drua power | Derenalagi thanks fans for support

“They’ve played in mud for four months in a year and they just love it and I’ve seen it first-hand this year, driving across parks that don’t even have football fields so whatever the weather is, there is no exception.” These were the words of Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne as they...

Crusaders to host Drua in quarter-final match

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will take on defending champions the Crusaders next Saturday in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Meli Derenalagi captained side beat the Queensland Reds 41-17 in Suva yesterday to reach the Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinals for the first time. In other quarterfinal matches, the Blues will take on the Waratahs at 7:35pm...

Drua sails through | Fans live up to expectation

Cheers of victory and joy filled the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva last night as the final whistle was blown to confirm the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua’s spot in the quarterfinals of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition. The Mick Byrne coached side hammered the Reds 41-17, in a match that has catapulted...

Rugby

We will give our best in Samoa, says Bobo