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Fijian Drua confirm seven new signings, including three test stars
The Fijian Drua have announced the arrival of seven new players to their growing roster ahead of the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
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A fortnight after they unveiled their last batch of signings, the new expansion franchise have confirmed the acquisitions of Flying Fijian stars Mesulame Dolokoto, Teti Tela and Haereiti Hetet.
After having made his test debut for Fiji in 2018, Dolokoto has gone on to play 10 times for his country, playing as recently as this year when he came off the bench against the All Blacks in Hamilton three months ago.
The 26-year-old hooker, who was part of the Drua squad that won the 2018 NRC in Australia, also featured at the 2019 World Cup and most recently played for the Glasgow Warriors before being released ahead of the current United Rugby Championship season.
Capable of playing at first-five or second-five, not only is Tela set to provide the Drua with selection options throughout the backline, but he will also offer valuable experience attained from various levels of the game.
Born in Fiji and schooled in Australia, the 30-year-old featured prominently in the NRC for both Queensland Country and Brisbane City between 2015 and 2019 and made one appearance for the Reds in Super Rugby against the Sunwolves in 2018.
A former Fiji U20 representative, Tela also spent a season in Spain between 2016 and 2017 and played for the Fijian Latui in Global Rapid Rugby last year.
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After starring Fiji’s win over the Barbarians at Twickenham following the 2019 World Cup, Tela made his official test debut off the bench against the All Blacks in Hamilton in July.
Hetet, meanwhile, is the youngest of the internationally-capped trio, but his credentials in his brief professional career indicate his quality.
The Kiwi-born loosehead prop made his provincial debut for Waikato in 2018 before shifting to Bay of Plenty, who he currently plays for, last year.
In 2019, Hetet made his debut for the Maori All Blacks, playing in back-to-back matches against Fiji in Suva and Rotorua.
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However, the 24-year-old was called into the Fijian squad last year for the Autumn Nations Cup, making his test debut against Georgia in Edinburgh, and won his second cap against the All Blacks in Dunedin earlier this year.
Moana Pasifika added talent and experience to their inaugural playing squad by signing two Hurricanes stars ahead of next year’s Super Rugby Pacific. #MoanaPasifika #SuperRugbyPacific https://t.co/yASxzZKJEH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 26, 2021
Elsewhere, Counties Manukau duo Zuriel Togiatama and Viliame Rarasea have also been signed by the Drua to boost their depth in the tight five.
A former Fiji U20 lock, Rarasea has been a constant presence in New Zealand’s provincial scene, having played for Counties Manukau since 2013, but his deal with the Drua presents his first opportunity at Super Rugby level.
At the age of 22, Togiatama is among the youngest players in the Drua squad, but will provide the likes of Dolokoto and Tevita Ikanivere with competition to start at hooker.
Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, a former Fiji U20 utility back who played for the New England Free Jacks in this year’s Major League Rugby, has also been added to the squad, as has local lad Vilive Miramira, a loose forward for Nadi in the Skipper Cup.
Additionally, the Drua have confirmed injured Flying Fijians wing Alivereti Veitokani will be part of the franchise’s wider set-up next year as aims to play for the team in the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup.
The eight-test star, who last played for Fiji at the 2019 World Cup and is a World Sevens Series veteran, was signed with London Irish between 2019 and 2020 and was part of the Drua side that claimed the 2018 NRC title.
“Both Fiji Rugby and the Fijian Drua are committed to player welfare,” Fiji Rugby Union chief executive John O’Connor said of Veitokani’s involvement with the Drua.
“We will help our players overcome serious injury and return to doing what they love. Over the next year, our medical and rehabilitation teams will ease Alivereti back into the game, and we’re confident he’ll be back stronger, faster and even more creative than ever.”
Confirmed Fijian Drua signings for 2022 Super Rugby Pacific
Props: Haereiti Hetet (Bay of Plenty), Jone Koroiduadua (Nadroga), Manasa Saulo (Rugby ATL), Samu Tawake (Rugby United New York), Meli Tuni (Suva), Kaliopasi Uluilakepa (Northland)
Hookers: Mesulame Dolokoto (Glasgow Warriors), Tevita Ikanivere (Suva), Zuriel Togiatama (Counties Manukau)
Locks: Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta (Tasman), Chris Minimbi (Naitasiri), Isoa Nasilasila (Southern Districts), Viliame Rarasea (Counties Manukau), Ratu Leone Rotuisolia (Sydney University), Sorovakatini Tuifagalele (Suva)
Loose Forwards: Meli Derenalagi (Fiji Sevens), Vilive Miramira (Nadi), Raikabula Momoedonu (Northland), Nemani Nagusa (Nadroga), Rusiate Nasova (Nadroga), Kitione Salawa Jr (Fiji Sevens), Joseva Tamani (NHRU Wildfires)
Halfbacks: Simione Kuruvoli (Tailevu), Ratu Peni Matawalu (Namosi), Serupepeli Vularika (LA Giltinis)
First-Fives: Napolioni Bolaca (Fiji Sevens), Kitione Taliga (Fiji Sevens), Teti Tela (GPS Old Boys)
Midfielders: Vinaya Habosi (Namosi), Kalione Nasoko (Fiji Sevens), Kalaveti Ravouvou (Namosi), Apisalome Vota (Suva)
Outside Backs: Onisi Ratave (Bay of Plenty), Tuidraki Samusamuvodre (New England Free Jacks)
Comments on RugbyPass
The best outside centre in the world at one point. He will be greatly missed.
2 Go to commentsYip his great for the big moments when needed as a safa really enjoy watching him
4 Go to commentsOne that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
3 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
114 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
2 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
3 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
3 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
114 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
3 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
4 Go to comments