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Drua dominate Fiji's World Cup squad with 18 players

By Josh Raisey
Fijian Drua celebrate after a try during the round three Super Rugby Pacific match between Fiji Drua and Crusaders at Churchill Park, on March 11, 2023, in Lautoka, Fiji. (Photo by Pita Simpson/Getty Images)

Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui has named 18 players from the Fijian Druan in his 33-man squad for the World Cup next month.

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After only their second year playing in Super Rugby Pacific, the Drua made the quarter-finals this season and now make up over half of Fiji’s World Cup squad.

Racing 92 flyhalf Ben Volavola is the shock exclusion from the squad, as Raiwalui has opted for the Drua’s Teti Tela and Caleb Muntz as his No10s.

Fiji will arrive in France in high spirits having beaten Tonga, Samoa and Japan over the last three weeks. They have warm-up Tests against France and England before getting their campaign underway against Wales.

“We have had a good journey for the last five weeks starting from Taveuni. I couldn’t be more proud of the players and the input they had in all our three test matches against Tonga, Samoa and Japan,” Raiwalui said to Fiji Rugby.

Fiji World Cup squad (age, club, Test caps)
Props
Eroni Mawi (27, Saracens, 23)
Peni Ravai (33, Queensland Reds, 39)
Jone Koroiduadua (24, Fijian Drua, 0)
Mesake Doge (30, Fijian Drua, 9)
Luke Tagi (26, Provence Rugby, 7)
Samu Tawake (26, Fijian Drua, 2)

Hookers
Tevita Ikanivere (23, Fijian Drua, 7)
Sam Matavesi (31, Northampton Saints, 24)
Zuriel Togiatama (24, Fijian Drua, 2)

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Locks
Isoa Nasilasila (23, Fijian Drua, 5)
Temo Mayanavanua (25, Northampton Saints, 9)

Lock/back row
Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta (25, Fijian Drua, 3)
Albert Tuisue (30, Gloucester Rugby, 17)
Lekima Tagitagivalu (27, Section Paloise Bearn Pyrenees, 2)

Back row
Levani Botia (34, La Rochelle, 23)
Vilive Miramira (24, Fijian Drua, 1)
Meli Derenalagi (24, Fijian Drua, 2)
Viliame Mata (31, Edinburgh, 24)

Halfback
Frank Lomani (27, Fijian Drua, 24)
Peni Matawalu (26, Fijian Drua, 5)

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Halfback/flyhalf
Simione Kuruvoli (24, Fijian Drua, 5)

Flyhalf
Caleb Muntz (23, Fijian Drua, 2)

Flyhalf/centre
Teti Tela (32, Fijian Drua, 5)

Inside/wing
Josua Tuisova (29, Racing 92, 19)

Inside/outside/wing
Semi Radradra (31, Bristol Bears, 13)

Outside/wing
Waisea Nayacalevu (33, Toulon, 38)
Iosefo Masi (25, Fijian Drua, 1)

Wing/fullback
Selesitino Ravutaumada (23, Fijian Drua, 3)

Wing
Vinaya Habosi (23, Racing 92, 4)
Jiuta Wainiqolo (24, Toulon, 6)

Wing/inside/outside
Kalaveti Ravouvou (25, Fijian Drua, 4)

Fullback/outside
Sireli Maqala (23, Bayonne, 3)
Ilaisa Droasese (23, Fijian Drua, 2)

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Comments

2 Comments
Y
Yogend 403 days ago

Great Squad. I believe in a these players. They played together for most of the year and have proved themselves to selectors. I'm just wondering if Apisalome Vota was in the training squad? He was great this season for Drua.

G
Greg 404 days ago

18 from Drua, 14 from Europe, 1 from Australia. What a great mix. Go Fiji.

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RW 2 hours ago
The All Blacks' backline is to blame for Robertson's unflattering record

Your feelings of rugby players personalities on and off the field aside, the ABs can't really blame the backline, sure they didn't perform but where were they last year, they got to a World Cup final. Same players different coach. Scott Robertson has the unenviable task of taking over a team that has traditionally been fantastic. They places a huge amount of pressure on a man, particularly one with the pedigree of 14 Super Rugby titles.


However club level and international country level are two completely different beasts. For one the opponents are good in club level but normally the best if the best are picked to represent their countries. Thus the level of opposition in club level vary tremendously. Also you only learn against the opposition you play, again Crusaders have really only got New Zealanders to play against who can give them any kind of opposition. Which means any non style ABs game play is not tested by 'Saders because they don't face anything else.


Now Scotty has taken over the coaching role from a guy who worked under possibly the best coach ABs have ever had, which means when Fozzie took over, he still had the inklings of top quality rugby although it appeared he didn't quite know how to work them properly. Now Scotty had no coaching ties with them, effectively starting from scratch. So he is still figuring out his team, and working them in. But unfortunately for now he is the one to blame for the less than average performances by his team that was shown us these past two tests and even the one against Argentina.


But it's not to say he is done and dusted but rather he needs to figure out his route, and like Rassie did and does, figure out his players, his game plan and how to get them back to where they were on 2011-2015.


My suggestion if he can, is to blood quite a few new okies, who can gain experience of playing against Springboks, France, Ireland, etc. and prepare them for the the next World Cup. Don't be shy about losing games but always look to preparing a new group for the RWC '27. If he has a newish style of playing, what better way to inform that than by starting with a fresh pair of legs and minds. Let a couple of the oldies to stay but build a new ABs team with a new style. Easier to train a puppy than an old dog. Just saying.


Give Razor time, and allow him the space. This is coming from a Saffa🇿🇦. Go Bokke, love you okes

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