Mark Evans aiming to use new role to bring top class rugby to Fiji

Mark Evans, the new Swire Shipping Fijian Drua chief executive, is planning to change the face of rugby in Fiji by staging six matches in the island nation.

Getting top class teams to travel to Fiji has been a recurring problem but Evans, who held similar roles with the Western Force, Global Rapid Rugby, Melbourne Storm, Harlequins and was Director of Rugby at Saracens, is confident the six matches will mark a significant moment for rugby in Fiji.

Evans, who was appointed to the Super Rugby Pacific franchise last month, has arrived in Fiji shortly after the opening of the Drua’s $2m state-of-the-art training facility. The Fijian Drua Home Base in Nadi will house high-performance and recreational facilities for athletes and team management, as well as coaches, medical, analysis and welfare staff

Evans told the Fiji Times: "I saw the new home base which is incredibly impressive and I suppose if possible, I am even more excited than I was when I was here a few months back.

“This year we’re hoping to execute six games, three in Suva and three in Lautoka. We know what the Super Rugby Pacific is all about and I’m hopeful that we can take it up another level in years to come and make significant progress not just on the field but off the field as well.

“You have got to get everything right and we want to get better at all levels. With any luck, each year we will progress or at least in some places, then in time we can look back and say we’ve become the first professional sports team on the island, and everything has worked out.

Evans paid tribute to the groundwork undertaken by former CEO Brain Thorburn and added:“The progress under Brian’s leadership has been incredibly impressive.

“It’s always difficult to be a start-up in any sector and that’s what the Drua is and still is”

Drua Super Pacific Rugby home match schedule:

March 11; Crusaders

April 1; Rebels

April 29; Blues

May 6; Hurricanes

May 27; Moana Pasifika

June 3; Reds