Confirmation of a full Super Rugby licence for the Fijian Drua is close - Thorburn

Fiji Rugby Union’s General Manager Commercial, Brian Thorburn says confirmation of a full Super Rugby licence for the Fijian Drua is close.

Thorburn told ABC Pacific Beat that they hope to get everything tied down in the next couple of weeks, so the Fijian side can join the Tongan-Samoan franchise, Moana Pasifika, in the new look competition.

But Thorburn says they are keen to see what the final structure of the competition will look like first.

He also says the Drua are working on contingency plans, as the team face the prospect of being unable to play matches in Fiji during their first season because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Thorburn adds the competition starts in February, but they had to turn their minds to the possibility that travel bubbles won't be open by then, and you can't have New Zealand and Australian teams coming into Fiji and having to quarantine, and then quarantine again on their return.

One option would be for the Drua to follow the lead of the Fiji Silktails rugby league team, and base themselves full time in Australia, at least for one season.

Once a full licence is confirmed, Thorburn says recruitment will begin in earnest.

Thorburn adds the intention is to have a squad that is entirely Fijian, but they reserve the right to field players who have Fijian heritage, but who may be ineligible to play for the national team because they have already played for other countries.

Source: ABC Pacific Beat