Drua Foundation receives $87,000 from NZ govt to help develop rugby in remote communities

The Drua Foundation and the New Zealand Government have embarked on a new initiative focused on uniting remote communities through rugby by providing $87,000 via the Pacific Sports for Development Fund to support the August 2025 Remote Communities Programme

The initiative signals the commitment from both organisations to develop the technical aspects of the game in rural communities using rugby to support health and education programmes.

Backed by New Zealand, the Drua Foundation will host a four-day training programme in Naitasiri from August 19th to the 22nd, to develop coaches and officials, with a focus on women’s involvement which will end with a Rugby 7s tournament on August 22nd at Ratu Cakobau Park, featuring U14 boys and U16 girls’ teams from Serua, Naitasiri, and Namosi.

NZ High Commissioner to Fiji Charlotte Darlow says New Zealand and Fiji share a love of rugby, and they also share the Drua Foundation’s aim - to support communities in Fiji through rugby development, health, education, and outreach.

Darlow says the Drua Foundation Remote Communities Programme in August 2025 will help promote the benefits of sport, fitness, and healthy living, and will deliver positive messages to kids about good behaviour on and off the field, the importance of staying in school and respecting one another.

She says the participants in the programme will be able to access the World Rugby Level 1 First Aid in Rugby Course, the World Rugby Level 1 Introduction to Coaching course, and the World Rugby Strength and Conditioning for Children Course, this will enable qualified coaches and officials to deliver Rugby programs in their communities.

Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans while expressing strong support for the partnership, says they are very appreciative of the support from the New Zealand government to help enable them to deliver this programme.

Evans says the Fijian Drua represents the whole country of Fiji, and it is very important to give back to the community - particularly in those areas which are harder to reach.

He says it is their intention, through the Drua Foundation, to grow the number of these programmes significantly in the months and years to come.