For Queen Victoria School youngster Viliame Tuilaucala Bale, years of hard work and dedication are paying off as he takes another big step in his rugby journey by joining the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Development squad.
Bale has been part of the Fijian Drua's development pathway since he was first identified while attending Labasa College.
He was selected among 29 players for the club's inaugural Under-16 Academy intake and later became part of the inaugural Drua Academy programme in 2024.
The proud son of Kocoma in Cakaudrove, with maternal links to Dawa in Cakaudrove, Bale continued to impress through the schoolboy ranks.
He recently represented the Queen Victoria School Under-18 side in the 2026 Vodafone Deans Competition before earning the opportunity to move into the Drua Development squad.
Bale says he is grateful to God for blessing him with his talent and for opening the opportunity for him.
He also thanked his parents for their support throughout his journey and his school friends for constantly pushing him to be at his best.
Bale says he is excited about the opportunity and is looking forward to training and playing with the senior development team.
Fijian Drua Director of Development and Pathways Nemani Nadolo-Kuridrani says Bale is a talented young player who has been in the Drua pathway for some time.
Nadolo-Kuridrani says Bale was identified at a young age and has continued to work hard and develop his game.
He says Bale's progression is exactly what the Drua pathway is designed to achieve by identifying talented young players from around Fiji, investing in their development and giving them opportunities to progress within the Drua system.
Bale's journey from schoolboy rugby and the Drua Academy into the Development squad highlights the pathway available for young players to work towards the professional game.
