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The Nemani Nadolo verdict on Drua transformation of Fijian rugby
By Liam Heagney
Legendary Fiji winger Nemani Nadolo has hailed the transformation of rugby in the Pacific Islands nation following the formation of the Fijian Drua. The franchise was originally launched in 2017 to take part in the Australian National Championship, but that participation was ended by the pandemic.
However, an invitation to join Super Rugby Pacific in 2022 has since enabled the team to flourish and they are now in seventh place in the 12-team tournament heading into Friday’s round nine clash versus the top-of-the-table Hurricanes in Suva.
The 36-year-old Nadolo, who won 30-plus Test caps with Fiji and played at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, retired from playing last year following a stellar career that saw him represent multiple clubs in five countries – Australia, France, England, Japan, and New Zealand.
This globe-trotting meant he never got the opportunity to play a season on the island, but the Sigatoka-born, Australian-raised star is chuffed that the successful establishment of Fijian Drua has created the opportunity for local players to play professionally at home rather than join overseas clubs.
“If the team was there then my route would be a lot different, but it’s great to see there is a professional team on the Island,” enthused Nadolo when interviewed by RugbyPass at the recent Hong Kong 10s.
“I go and do a bit of media work over there with Fiji Drua and the fact they can earn a decent living and stay on the island, play in front of their families, why would you leave?
“Fiji is a wonderful place, wonderful country. It’s relaxing, it’s not as hustle and bustle as in some other cities or countries. It’s great for the game but it is also great for Fiji in terms of the development.
"They don’t need to go and play in a National One league in France or a Pro D2 club and their career sort of gets wasted away. They get to play on the island and now they are starting to retain players.
"Honestly, it’s great, it’s something that was probably crying out for a long time. It would have been good to have it five or 10 years earlier, it would have been great but it is what it is.
“I speak to some of the Fijian boys there and they are just so happy. They are getting offers from Europe but they are not taking it because why would they?
"They get to live at home, they get a good six-figure contract, and they are playing in front of their family. It’s the same for anyone in England or Ireland, why would you leave? You get to play for your country but also your club.”
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Latest Comments
I clearly wasn’t referring to White.
There was more than one failing here, and they extend across process, procedure and likely policy too.
Having supposedly elite level officials if not ignore, then at the very least heavily downplay self evidently violent conduct, was a poor look for the sport. It reflects very poorly on both the standards of those officials, as well as the game’s governance more generally.
By rights, all concerned should be reprimanded & removed from test match duties pending remedial training. However, we all know that will not happen. World Rugby are essentially immune to criticism and if not yet at FIFA levels, are increasingly behaving in a similar, cabal like manner.
The move to increase punishment for head contact was in response to an impending legal challenge by former players. One that is likely to threaten the entire sport as we know it. Hence the evolution & application of the ‘tackle framework’, a key aspect of which now involves the ability of officials to link processes and share the on-field administrative burden.
Having a referee refer this incident to the bunker for review after clearly stating ‘head contact’, and in relation to a post-whistle and therefore off the ball incident, was either professionally incompetent, or if taken in order to distance himself from a decision that may have affected the tournament chances of the union to which he is affiliated, wilfully negligent.
The second of those two options is clearly far more serious - and indeed, potentially even legally cuplable. However, even the former is not a good look for a professional sport in an era of heightened CTE awareness.
Extremely poor all round, I’m afraid.
Go to comments“I don't know of any young players who left to go to university and then were awarded professional rugby contacts to an English/Scottish team.” No, I don’t know of any. Gareth Steenson would be the closest. He was at Queen’s, and then went over to England, ending up having such a stellar career with Exeter Chiefs. Any others would have started with Ulster first. Ian Whitten at Exeter, and currently Niall Annett at Bath, Niall Armstrong at Exeter.
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