'It makes me laugh when coaches of richer nations moan about only having 10 days'

Mark Evans, the Fijian Drua CEO, believes the 33 strong Fiji squad that will arrive in France in two contingents starting tomorrow is the best prepared to ever leave the Islands nation, but is predicting they will be even more dangerous at the 2027 tournament in Australia.

Evans is understandably proud of the 18 Fijian Drua players who have earned selection in the Fiji squad at next months Rugby World Cup and they headed north under the control of Simon Raiwalui, the head coach, having enjoyed an unbeaten title triumph in the Pacific Nations Cup defeating Tonga, Samoa and Japan.

Fiji have warm-up games with France in Nantes (August 19) and England at Twickenham (August 26) before taking their place in Pool C at the Cup where Wales, Australia, Georgia and Portugal have to deal with their heady mix of European stars like Semi Radradra, Josua Tuisova and Levani Botia and that large contingent of Drua players.

Evans, who previously held key roles at Harlequins and Saracens, is approaching the first anniversary of his appointment as the Drua’s chief executive and one of the main drivers in setting up the Super Rugby Pacific franchise was to provide the Fiji national squad with more professional players. Patently, that has been achieved and the PNC triumph followed the Drua’s impressive Super Pacific Rugby season that saw them qualify for the knockout stages in only their second year in the rebranded competition.

Evans’ first year at the helm is ending with the majority of his “to do” list ticked off – including a newly levelled and well-drained training pitch – and is eagerly awaiting to see what impact Fiji can make at the Rugby World Cup. He is adamant the true effect of a professional rugby team operating in Fiji and offering players a viable alternative to heading overseas to make their rugby fortune, will be more clearly seen when Australia stage the Rugby World Cup in four years time.

He explained: “I don’t think you will see the full impact of the Drua on the national team until the 2027 World Cup because it hasn’t been going long enough. The other piece of the jigsaw to go with the Drua providing more players to the national squad is a consistent playing programme and outside a World Cup year Fiji only get five games.

“Fiji are 10th in the World rankings but the match programme doesn’t reflect that fact. It is not adequate and if things changed you would have another genuinely competitive Tier 1 nation and also bring the big teams to Fiji.

“It is ridiculous that the November games Fiji play involve the squad flying in and playing a couple of days later and it makes me laugh when coaches of richer nations moan about only having 10 days to prepare. The plan is to put Fiji in with Tonga, Samoa, USA, Canada, Uruguay and possibly one other into their own tournament but the real aim should be to put Fiji in the Rugby Championship.”

The 18-strong Drua contingent includes captain Meli Derenalagi, who will be at his first World Cup, and halfback Frank Lomani, who played in the 2019  tournament in Japan with both helping  Fiji score 104 points in winning their PNC matches against Tonga (36-20), Samoa (33-19) and Japan (35-12).

The Fijian Drua are set to take over the women’s team – Fijiana Drua – that has been successful in winning their Australian-based tournament twice and the hope is to create a women’s Super Pacific Rugby format. Building on his first year is Evans’ focus and that includes creating options for young players who have been poached by other countries.

Evans explained: “Fiji leaks players to a number of markets; New Zealand and Australia schools, the NRL and to France where the clubs want them to do their five-year qualification. That is quite a pull and it’s unrealistic to think we can reduce that to zero. However, we are beginning to bring in new programmes for those age groups.

“The U20 World Cup is usually a meat market and normally five or six go off to other regions but none went. We signed three and another two were already in our system.  The tide is turning because there is another route and not so long ago there wasn’t a choice if you wanted to be a professional player unless you were picked up by the sevens programme. If you got an offer to one of the New Zealand or Australian schools you probably didn’t come back or a French scout or NRL picked you up.

“Our aim has to be to make our route as attractive as we can while accepting that with one team it will be very competitive to get a Drua contract. We run a self-imposed limit of 37 on the roster with 10 man development squad underneath. We will not be able to absorb everyone but we do want a bigger slice of the 16-17-year-old market. We have a minimum wage and if players get squad place and that is a significant number by Fijian standards and that is deliberate.

“You never tick everything off your to-do list and we hit our targets in terms of numbers of players getting the World Cup squad and on-field performances, we made some strides on pathways to bring young players through and six are coming into the senior squad. Crowds were boisterous, enthusiastic and little lower than I hoped ( averaging 10,000) and we have a bit of work to do there. Getting both grounds in Suva and Lautoka full is the target and we are pretty stable financially.

“We took a big hit having to play in Australia in the first year and this year was better with six games home games and we will be able to incrementally increase the playing budget. There will be seven matches in the Islands next time and we will be improving the medical and social areas in the high-performance centre with the big thing being the new training pitch.

“There is a real dearth in the west of well-drained and flat pitches to train on and when the weather does get bad having control of you own pitch is going to be important. The pitch is just outside Nadi right by the airport and Fiji Airways has given us a three-year lease on a piece of land and it will be ready for the start of training on November 1. “

The 18 Fijian Drua players in the squad are:

Meli Derenalagi
Tevita Ikanivere
Zuriel Togiatama
Mesake Doge
Jone Koroi
Samu Tawake
Isoa Nasilasila
Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta
Vilive Miramira
Simione Kuruvoli
Frank Lomani
Peni Matawalu
Caleb Muntz
Teti Tela
Iosefo Masi
Kalaveti Ravouvou
Selestino Ravutaumada
Ilaisa Droasese