A Fijiana Drua team will join the Buildcorp Super W Competition in Australia, replacing last year’s President’s XV as the sixth side.
This is good news for Fiji, offering players more exposure to international competition before they go to the World Cup . The squad of 30 contains eight who are resident abroad in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The one name familiar to English eyes is Rachel Laqeretabua of Saracens.
They will be based throughout in Australia. They are not a full-strength Fiji squad, though they contain several capped players.
Both the men’s and the women’s squads take their name Drua from the double-hulled boat that lies at the heart of Fijian culture and history.
FRU’s Chief Executive John O’Connor expressed his gratitude to Rugby Australia for their generosity in allowing their players to join the premier league RA possesses. It really shouldn’t be like that. The team really strengthens the tournament, replacing the hotch-potch collection of players in the President’s side. The FRU wants its Fifteens squad to emulate the great achievements of its Sevens team.
Although the Super W now takes on a distinct Pacific tinge, no other Pacific nation has received an invitation. Samoa were the other Oceania team hoping for a World Cup place, but they were thwarted by travel restrictions. Even then, their play-off against Tonga approached high farce, as the match was staged in Australia and limited to players resident there. I reported on the game in November.
Oceania nations must wait for the WXV next year to have a chance of regular international competition.
For now, we can look forward to Fijiana sharpening their Fifteens skills in the Super W.
