Mike Legge explains how the Drua are striking a new balance in 2026

The Fijian Drua are set to play consecutive Super Rugby Women’s matches at home for the first time in 2024 this weekend when they face the ACT Brumbies at Four R Stadium in Ba, and the match is looming as a significant one in multiple regards.

Marking the first occasion the women’s side has played at the venue since its redevelopment, Ba has quickly become a happy hunting ground for the Drua, with the men’s team winning both fixtures played there in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.

More importantly, having a decent stint at home in such a short season has proven invaluable for the two-time champions, who have undergone a transition in 2026 with many new faces coming into the side.

It is a challenge head coach Mike Legge has managed both as the Drua coach and, for a brief time, as the interim national head coach.

“When I took on the interim Fijiana Test coach role, the biggest goal was to start blooding new players as we start building towards the 2029 World Cup,” Legge said in an interview with RugbyPass.

“It’s the same within this environment too.

“The blending of both the old and the new, it’s reinvigorated a lot of our players. It’s brought a new atmosphere into this Drua space. In the past, it’s probably been quite cruisy because everyone’s familiar with each other.

“But with this new group, new players mixing with the old, it’s actually lifted the spirits. Everyone’s working really hard, but the new girls are actually challenging and pushing our more experienced players as well.

“I think you see that in some of the selections [this week]. There’s a real healthy competition in here, but there’s also good camaraderie within the group.”

The young blood is set to be called upon this week against the Brumbies, with Fiji test player Merewairita Neivosa and Sevens speedster Atelaite Buna coming into the side in place of Ivamere Rokowti (concussion) and Vika Nakacia (leg).

Keleni Marawa will also start at hooker to cover the experienced Bitala Tawake, who drops down to the bench, with Kolora Lomani set to skipper the side.

Karavaki Lutumaiba, Salaseini Railumu and Sulita Waisega will also get their first starts of the year, with Verenaisi Ditavutu in line to make her debut off the bench.

This decision to rotate players for this fixture is twofold for Legge, not only to develop leadership and experience in the squad, but also to address several issues that presented themselves in their matches against the Waratahs and Western Force.

With the Brumbies boasting a Wallaroo-heavy pack, coming in fresh off a bye and an opening round win against the Reds, they are a side not to be taken lightly.

With the last two fixtures on Fijian soil between the two sides both being decided by less than a converted try, Legge knows the challenge that faces them, and the need for his side to step up.

“It does allow us to give our other leaders an opportunity to lead and get that experience. We’re building good depth, leadership-wise,” Legge said.

“The biggest work-on for us in the last two games is how we’ve started.

“Throughout the pre-season, and even the Fijiana campaigns, our starts have actually been our strength. We’ve had to relook at how we do things at training, implementing a few things that we can replicate that will get them that start.

“We know the Brumbies; they come with a pretty experienced forward pack who are pretty good around that ruck area, both on attack and defence. We’ve had a pretty big focus in and around that.

“It’s winning the collision and earning the right for us to be able to play our style of footy. If we can get parity in and around that breakdown, we can put on a performance like we did in the second half against the Force.”

A big factor in the side’s come-from-behind win against the Force was the crowd, with Legge believing the home support played a critical part in the side coming from 24-10 down to win 29-24 inside the last half hour of their round two fixture.

The result at home proved critical to keep their campaign alive following their round one loss to the Waratahs, and should they win this weekend, the Drua will likely have done enough to qualify for the semi-finals.

A loss, however, could prove fatal, meaning they will have to travel to Ballymore to beat the Reds next week in their final match of the regular season, with the side having a bye in round five.

For Legge, even with the stakes high this weekend, having the chance to play multiple games at home and seeing how much Fiji gets behind his team – and the results it brings out of them – is one of the great joys of the job.

“It means everything,” the head coach said.

“After the Waratahs game in the first round, it was really important for us to get home, to get back to familiar surroundings.

“It’s really helped the girls settle into the season, and having two back-to-back home games in front of our family, in front of our good mates, and our local fans, it’s huge.

“That second half [against the Force], the crowd really got our girls up. Then our girls just started playing the way that we know they can play.

“Our supporters play a big, big part of that.”