Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Fiji halfback Frank Lomani joins Drua ahead of relocated Rebels match

Frank Lomani Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The Fijian Drua insist they will be ready for a crunch Super Rugby Pacific match against Melbourne despite heavy rain forcing the relocation of Friday night’s game.

ADVERTISEMENT

Although only three rounds in, the clash looms as an important one for both teams who are eager to bank their first win after one-sided losses so far.

The only winless Australian team, the Rebels suffered another blow on Tuesday with Wallabies back Reece Hodge suspended for the match while the Drua had some good news with Fiji international and former Melbourne halfback Frank Lomani joining their side.

Video Spacer

Los Pumas star Pablo Matera opens up on move to Crusaders | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 56:13
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 56:13
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    Los Pumas star Pablo Matera opens up on move to Crusaders | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

    A flooded Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane prompted the Fijian outfit to shift their maiden ‘home’ game to Sunshine Coast Stadium.

    They have also been forced to train indoors with heavy rain falling around their Lennox Heads base, but coach Mick Byrne said they would be ready for the Rebels.

    “We’re expecting a very physical game – the Rebels will come after us up front like all teams,” Byrne said on Tuesday.

    “They play a physical game, the forward pack is well coached and there’s some players in there that I know a lot about that I know how hard they work – they’ll be coming in full steam ahead.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Both teams have been starved of tries, and Byrne, who was a former skills coach for the Wallabies, said he hoped to see his team put some scoreboard pressure on Melbourne.

    “Our defence has been asked lots of questions by the opposition and it’s time that we turned around and asked the opposition defence a number of questions and that’s what we’re focusing on this week,” he said.

    “We need to make sure that we turn up and perform to our best and when we do that we’re going to be competitive.”

    Lomani, who has been playing with Northampton in the UK, links with the team this week but won’t be available for the Rebels match.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “It’s great to have Frank join us, as it’s been well documented we missed out on a number of overseas players earlier in the season with the delay in being able to get our license through,” Byrne said.

    “He’s had a Super rugby experience and he’ll add some another voice into our leadership around the ground.

    “With our existing halfbacks he’ll be able to provide some great experience to them to learn from as well.”

    Anyone who purchased tickets to the game in Brisbane will be refunded, with tickets for the game at Sunshine Coast Stadium to cost $20, with children under 16 free.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    O2 Inside Line: All In | Episode 5 | Making Waves

    Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

    Tackling reasons for drop-out in sport | Zainab Alema | Rugby Rising Locker Room

    Krakow | Leg 3 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series | Full Day Replay

    Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

    Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

    Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    G
    GabrielArthur 1 hour ago
    Conor Murray: French giants weigh up shock move for Ireland star

    Last month, I faced a nightmare scenario when the entire balance of SOL I held in my MetaMask wallet was abruptly transferred to an unknown address. One moment, my funds were secure; the next, they’d vanished without a trace. I frantically reviewed my transaction history, double-checked permissions, and scanned my devices for malware, but found no obvious breach. Panic turned to despair as I realized my savings accumulated through years of cautious investing were gone. Desperate for answers, I contacted MetaMask support, only to be told that their team couldn’t reverse or trace decentralized transactions. They speculated that my wallet had been compromised, possibly via a phishing scam, a malicious dApp, or a leaked recovery phrase, but I couldn’t pinpoint where I’d gone wrong. Feeling helpless, I combed through Reddit threads and crypto forums, where I stumbled upon TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT Website https://trustgeekshackexpert.com/ , a service hailed for its success in reclaiming stolen assets. Though skeptical after all, everything I’d read suggested crypto theft was irreversible I decided to take a leap of faith and submitted my case details, including transaction IDs and wallet addresses. Their team responded within hours, outlining a meticulous plan to trace the stolen SOL across the blockchain and collaborate with exchanges to intercept the funds. Over the next week, TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT provided daily updates, revealing how the thief had funneled my SOL through a labyrinth of wallets to obscure its trail. Using advanced blockchain forensics, they identified patterns linking the movement of funds to a known exchange. By working with legal teams and platform security, they flagged the stolen crypto before it could be liquidated. Their expertise and determination were evident as they navigated the complexities of the blockchain, piecing together the puzzle of my stolen assets. Against all odds, their relentless efforts paid off: within 9 days, they recovered 100% of my stolen SOL and safely redirected it to a new, fortified wallet. This experience taught me the importance of vigilance in the crypto space and the value of seeking help from experts when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. I learned that while the decentralized nature of cryptocurrency offers many advantages, it also comes with risks that require constant awareness and proactive measures. Contact service E m a i l: Trustgeekshackexpert[At]fastservice[Dot]com & w h a t's A p p. +1 7 1 9 4 9 2 2 6 9 3

    7 Go to comments
    A
    Ashley Carson 1 hour ago
    ‘There’s a little bit of danger’: Force captain confident after bye week

    Life can unravel in an instant. For me, that moment came when deceitful cryptocurrency brokers vanished with £40,000 of my savings, a devastating blow that left me paralyzed by shame and despair. The aftermath was a fog of sleepless nights, self-doubt, and a crushing sense of betrayal. I questioned every choice, wondering how I’d fallen for such a scheme. Hope felt like a luxury I no longer deserved. Then, Tech Cyber Force Recovery emerged like a compass in a storm. Skeptical yet desperate, I reached out, half-expecting another dead end. What I found, however, was a team that radiated both expertise and empathy. From our first conversation, they treated my crisis not as a case file, but as a human tragedy. Their professionalism was matched only by their compassion, a rare combination in the often impersonal world of finance.

    What happened next defied logic. Within 72 hours of sharing my story, they traced the labyrinth of blockchain transactions, outmaneuvering the scammers with surgical precision. When their email arrived, “Funds recovered, secure and intact,” I wept. It wasn’t just the money; it was the validation that justice could prevail. Tech Cyber Force Recovery didn’t just restore my finances, they resurrected my dignity. But their impact ran deeper. They demystified the recovery process, educating me without judgment. Their transparency became a lifeline, transforming my fear into understanding. Where I saw chaos, they saw patterns; where I felt powerless, they instilled agency. Today, I’m rebuilding not just my savings, but my trust in humanity. Tech Cyber Force Recovery taught me that vulnerability isn’t weakness, and that seeking help is an act of courage. To those still trapped in the aftermath of fraud: miracles exist. They wear no capes, but they wield algorithms and integrity like superheroes. To the extraordinary Tech Cyber Force Recovery team, your work is more than technical prowess. It’s alchemy, turning despair into resilience. You gave me more than my funds; you gave me my future. May your light guide countless others through their darkest nights. From the depths of my heart: Thank you.

    Consult Tech Cyber Force Recovery for help.

    MAIL.. Techcybersforcerecovery@cyberservices.com

    2 Go to comments
    G
    GS 2 hours ago
    James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum

    Whilst I dislike what is occurring with the French clubs, they are not the only parties involved in this activity. You can also look to Ireland and its “Project Player” Scheme, or how Scotland picks players with zero background who have never lived in Scotland.


    But market forces will dictate where players will end up.


    If RA wants to retain these players, then it should offer them remuneration in line with or better than what the French clubs can. The NZRFU should have offered Aki, Lowe, or Fergus Burke a higher salary than what was offered by the likes of Irish Rugby, Sacarens, etc., if it wanted to retain them.


    These kids going to France and the aforementioned Kiwi players are attempting to build a career and financial security in a career that can end with one injury. Think about that—one bad injury, and your career is over, so just like anyone, they have to make the smart, informed decision that is right for them and their families.


    If the likes of Oz and NZ can’t or are not prepared to match the $$$, so be it - this is the reality of professional rugby, and whilst it turns the international game into a glorified club comp, I’m not sure if there is any solution.


    And let’s remember it’s not all negative. This movement of players from Nth to South gives kids like Blair Murray or Taine Plumtree the ability to earn good $$ and experience international rugby, when let’s face it, they would at best be on the fringes of a Super Rugby squad - so it’s not all bad!

    4 Go to comments
    TRENDING
    TRENDING Fred Tuilagi: 'I fell out with rugby after what happened to me at Leicester' Fred Tuilagi: 'I fell out with rugby after what happened at Leicester'
    Search