Fijian Drua stun ladder-leading Chiefs in Lautoka to snap winless run

The Fijian Drua have won a game in Super Rugby Pacific for the first time this season by stunning the ladder-leading Chiefs 28-24 at Lautoka’s Churchill Park on Saturday afternoon, which saw them snap a run of three heartbreaking defeats to open the campaign.

Thousands of fans propped up their umbrellas in a bid to combat the tough conditions Mother Nature had in store for those in attendance, with heavy rain pouring down from the heavens as the Fijian Drua made their way onto the field.

The Drua had a winless record coming into this match after going down in a series of thrillers to the Brumbies, Hurricanes and Waratahs. Coach Glen Jackson insisted after last week’s defeat that they weren’t in “must-win” territory yet, but snapping this run still seemed crucial.

As for the Chiefs, they’re arguably the competition favourites, with Clayton McMillan’s men sitting in first place on the ladder after three rounds, but this trip to Fiji was always to be a challenger without All Black Damian McKenize who’s out injured.

History has shown the Drua are a different beast when playing at home, with the conditions and vocal fans creating an intense cauldron of pressure inside the walls of the stadium. But the Chiefs did what they could to snatch any advantages away from the Fijians.

All Black Samisoni Taukei’aho score the opening try of the match after just two minutes, with the Chiefs marching up the field as they dominated possession and received some penalties. Taukei’aho crashed over from a rolling maul in his first start of the 2025 season.

Playmaker Josh Jacomb took over the kicking duties in McKenzie’s absence but the first shot at goal missed the mark from practically in-front – an attempt Jacomb would love to have back for sure, although the Chiefs still led 5-nil early.

Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, who returned to the Drua’s starting side in place of Caleb Muntz at fly-half, hit back for the Drua about 20 minutes later with a penalty goal. The trying conditions made it tough for either side to take any real control on the scoreboard up until that point.

The Chiefs truck next as Jimmy Tupou crashed over a few minutes later. Jacomb was able to add the extras to hand the visitors the first lead of the match that was beyond a converted try, which was a reflection of how the match had been up until that point.

Armstrong-Ravula added another three to the Drua’s score with a successful shot at goal shortly after, but another attempt on the stroke of half-time failed to hit the mark. The Fijians trailed 6-12 at the break, but it was still very much anyone’s game ahead of the second-half.

Enter Meli Derenalagi.

On the back of some relentless work by the Drua close to the Chiefs’ try-line, it was their star No. 8 who ended up crossing under the sticks. Derenalagi scored juts two minutes into the second period, with the successful conversion giving them the lead for the first time.

But the Chiefs wouldn’t trail the Drua for long.

After a kick ahead from former All Blacks Sevens flyer Leory Carter, All Black Antone Lienert-Born dove on the ball and slid into the wet in-goal for the go-ahead try. Jacomb had a tough conversion attempt and ended up missing the mark, but the Chiefs held a four-point lead.

“They survived the men in blue,” commentator Greg Clark would say about five minutes later, with the Chiefs bombarding the Drua’s 22 with phase after phase in attack. But the Drua won a penalty at the breakdown to relieve pressure for then at least.

The Drua were rewarded for their efforts in defence with 20 minutes left to play, with Armstrong-Ravula throwing a great cut-out pass in the lead-up to Vuate Karawalevu’s try. With the lead changing again, the Fijians were in the box seat at that stage, 18-17.

Paris Olympic silver medallist Ponipate Loganimasi then did something special.

Loganimasi ran onto a Jacomb chip kick, spun around some defenders, kicked the ball himself and then put it on the toe again before diving on the loose ball for the score. It set up a grandstand finish with the Drua leading by eight points with less than 15 to play.

It was a tense end to this match. The Drua had a couple of chances to extend their lead further but the Chiefs stood tall in defence time and time again. But, eventually, something had to give.

Armstrong-Ravula converted a late penalty, making the score 28-17.

The Chiefs had the final say with a try to captain Tupou Vaa’i, but it wasn’t enough to avoid their first loss of the 2025 season.