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New Drua signing is 'immense' and a 'household name' in Fiji
By Ian Cameron
Fijian Drua this week released the names of five new recruits ahead of the 2022 Super Rugby season, but one player, in particular, stands out.
Last week the new Super Rugby side confirmed the signing of five new players, despite having agreed terms with 20 players to date. This week they confirmed another five, including sevens star Ratu Meli Derenalagi, as well as Flying Fijian and ex-NRC Drua stalwart Serupepeli Vularika, Namosi's Vinaya Habosi, Suva prop Meli Tuni and NPC Premiership winning Tasman Mako forward Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta.
Fijian Drua have committed itself to naming the remaining 27 members of its squad for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific competition before departing for Australia next month.
Ratu Meli Derenalagi - nicknamed the 'White Shark' - got a special mention from both Fijian Drua Interim CEO Brian Thorburn and Fiji Rugby Union's General Manager of the High Performance Unit, Simon Raiwalui.
“Ratu Meli Derenalagi needs no introduction as a household name in Fiji, a former 7s captain and an Olympic gold medallist. We have no doubt he will thrive as a Super Rugby loose forward under the guidance of Head Coach Mick Byrne and other coaching staff," said Thorburn.
Raiwalui was equally enthusiastic about the signing of the 23-year-old Nadi backrow, who stands 6'5 and weighs 97kg.
“At just 23, Ratu Meli’s contribution to Fijian rugby has already been immense," said Raiwalui. "With his speed and ball-handling skills, he adds dynamism to the squad as a backrow forward or as a scrum anchor. His aerial skills make him a decent line-out option as well.”
There was also mention for the Drua's other new recruits.
Thorburn has however admitted that the side will have to contract a number of players who are not eligible to play for Fiji, into the team.
“There is a possibility that we may seek to contract a very small number of players who are not eligible for Fiji in the first year or two, but only to fill positions where we do not have adequate depth from Fiji players. Our intention is to only recruit players who are already capped for Fiji, or who are eligible to play for Fiji.
The purpose of the Fijian Drua is to give the national union a Southern Hemisphere professional side that will centralise emerging Fijian talent, players who would be otherwise spread across professional rugby competitions around the globe, with the ultimate goal of improving the national team. This of course has to be balanced against limited financial resources and the need to be competitive in next year's Super Rugby season, when they will be playing some of the best sides in the world.
FIJIAN DRUA SQUAD SO FAR: Meli Derenalagi, Serupepeli Vularika, Meli Tuni, Vinaya Habosi, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Napolioni Bolaca, Tevita Ikanivere, Nemani Nagusa, Simione Kuruvoli and Onisi Ratave.
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“I’d love to know the relevant numbers of who comes into professionalism from a club, say as an adult, versus early means like say pathway programmes “
Not sure where you would get that information, JW. But your question piqued my interest, and I looked at the background of some Ulster players. If you are interested/have the time, look at the Wiki site for Ulster rugby, and scroll down to the current squad, where you can then click on the individual players, and often there is good info. on their pathway to Ulster squad.
Not many come in from the AIL teams directly. Robert Baloucoune came from Enniskillen into the Ulster setup, but that was after he played Sevens for Ireland. Big standout missed in his school years is Stuart McCloskey, who never played for an age group team, and it was only after he showed good form playing for AIL team Dungannon, that he was eventually added late to Ulster Academy.
“I’m just thinking ahead. You know Ireland is going to come into the same predicament Aus is at where that next group of youngsters waiting to come into programmes get picked off by the French”
That is not happening with top young players in Ireland. I can’t think of a single example of one that has gone to a French club, or to any other country. But as you say, it could happen in the future.
What has happened to a limited extent is established Irish players moving offshore, but they are few. Jonathan Sexton had a spell with Racing in France…not very successful. Simon Zebo also went over to Racing. Trevor Brennan went to Toulouse, stayed there too, with his sons now playing in France, one at Toulouse, one at Toulon. And more recently the two tens, Joey Carbery to Bordueax, and Ben Healy to Edinburgh.
“I see they’ve near completed a double round robin worth of games, does that mean theres not much left in their season?”
The season finishes around mid April. Schools finish on St Patrick’s Day, 17 th Match. When I lived in Ireland, we had a few Sevens tournaments post season. But never as big a thing as in the Scottish Borders, where the short game was “invented”.
Go to commentsSo glad to see the club rising through the leagues after starting at the very bottom. This is how it should be, working hard to achieve this so everyone at the club should be very proud. All clubs that have folded but want to restart should start at the very bottom, I'm not going to drop names.
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