Drua dominate Fiji's World Cup squad with 18 players

Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui has named 18 players from the Fijian Druan in his 33-man squad for the World Cup next month.

After only their second year playing in Super Rugby Pacific, the Drua made the quarter-finals this season and now make up over half of Fiji’s World Cup squad.

Racing 92 flyhalf Ben Volavola is the shock exclusion from the squad, as Raiwalui has opted for the Drua’s Teti Tela and Caleb Muntz as his No10s.

Fiji will arrive in France in high spirits having beaten Tonga, Samoa and Japan over the last three weeks. They have warm-up Tests against France and England before getting their campaign underway against Wales.

“We have had a good journey for the last five weeks starting from Taveuni. I couldn’t be more proud of the players and the input they had in all our three test matches against Tonga, Samoa and Japan,” Raiwalui said to Fiji Rugby.

Fiji World Cup squad (age, club, Test caps)
Props
Eroni Mawi (27, Saracens, 23)
Peni Ravai (33, Queensland Reds, 39)
Jone Koroiduadua (24, Fijian Drua, 0)
Mesake Doge (30, Fijian Drua, 9)
Luke Tagi (26, Provence Rugby, 7)
Samu Tawake (26, Fijian Drua, 2)

Hookers
Tevita Ikanivere (23, Fijian Drua, 7)
Sam Matavesi (31, Northampton Saints, 24)
Zuriel Togiatama (24, Fijian Drua, 2)

Locks
Isoa Nasilasila (23, Fijian Drua, 5)
Temo Mayanavanua (25, Northampton Saints, 9)

Lock/back row
Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta (25, Fijian Drua, 3)
Albert Tuisue (30, Gloucester Rugby, 17)
Lekima Tagitagivalu (27, Section Paloise Bearn Pyrenees, 2)

Back row
Levani Botia (34, La Rochelle, 23)
Vilive Miramira (24, Fijian Drua, 1)
Meli Derenalagi (24, Fijian Drua, 2)
Viliame Mata (31, Edinburgh, 24)

Halfback
Frank Lomani (27, Fijian Drua, 24)
Peni Matawalu (26, Fijian Drua, 5)

Halfback/flyhalf
Simione Kuruvoli (24, Fijian Drua, 5)

Flyhalf
Caleb Muntz (23, Fijian Drua, 2)

Flyhalf/centre
Teti Tela (32, Fijian Drua, 5)

Inside/wing
Josua Tuisova (29, Racing 92, 19)

Inside/outside/wing
Semi Radradra (31, Bristol Bears, 13)

Outside/wing
Waisea Nayacalevu (33, Toulon, 38)
Iosefo Masi (25, Fijian Drua, 1)

Wing/fullback
Selesitino Ravutaumada (23, Fijian Drua, 3)

Wing
Vinaya Habosi (23, Racing 92, 4)
Jiuta Wainiqolo (24, Toulon, 6)

Wing/inside/outside
Kalaveti Ravouvou (25, Fijian Drua, 4)

Fullback/outside
Sireli Maqala (23, Bayonne, 3)
Ilaisa Droasese (23, Fijian Drua, 2)