Drua launches Academy with 29 players under 16 signed

The Fijian Drua has launched its Academy with 29 players under 16 years of age signing on as its first ever cohort.

The Drua Academy is an initiative of the Fijian Drua.

The Drua says players are scouted from the secondary school’s competition and sign a contract with the Fijian Drua which sees them assemble several times a year in a camp environment at the Club’s world class facilities in Nadi.

They say these players will receive specialised skills-based training from Drua coaches and high-performance staff and be part of a development programme over three years.

The Drua says the first ever group which assembled in Nadi today have been selected from fifteen local secondary schools around the country, and the highest number of recruits being recorded from Marist Brothers High School with six players followed closely by Suva Grammar School with four players while defending Vodafone Deans Secondary Schools champion, Queen Victoria School has two players selected for the programme.

Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans says the Drua Academy is designed to identify, select and help develop selected pool of players nationwide starting this year with the Under 16 Category to provide a sustainable pathway to professional rugby.

Evans says the programme includes coordinated player identification by Drua Scouts consisting of Drua Development Coaching Staff, FRU High Performance Coaches, provincial coaches and former Flying Fijians.

Drua Academy Programme Lead Ben Takubu says the players were recruited from the Vodafone Deans Competition, and went through a screening programme and today will start their first ever two-day camp.

Takubu says through dedicated coaching and specialised training programme for each player, they will teach them to hone their natural talents with the rigorous requirements of professional, elite-level rugby by the time they finish high school.

The best players coming through this Academy programme then get an opportunity to impress coaches and join the Drua Development programme, making them one step away from being part of the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Super Rugby Pacific squad.”

The Fijian Drua has congratulated the first ever group of 29 Academy players, who joined camps accompanied by excited parents who came to drop them off, carrying the well wishes of their schools and communities.

The players are:

1. Viliame Daurua- Suva Grammar School

2. Sesoni Tamani- Mahatma Ghandi Memorial School

3. Ravuama Kunahau- Ba Pro Free Bird Institute

4. Alivereti Susau- Suva Grammar School

5. Daris Khan- Ratu Sukuna Memorial School

6. Christian Oakley- Marist Brothers High School

7. Sowane Baravilala- Levuka Public School

8. Seremaia Salikoro- Natabua High School

9. Donald Radiva- Ratu Navula College

10. Viliame Bale- Labasa College

11. Jone Niumataiwalu- Queen Victoria School

12. Eremasi Nasilasila- Marist Brothers High School

13. Paula Tuvalo- Ba Pro Free Bird Institute

14. Rafaele Waqalala- Swami Vivekananda College

15. Isoa Bakeidaku- Labasa Sangam (SKM) College

16. Joshua Tawake- Suva Grammar School

17. Peni Nakarawa- Sila Central High School

18. Usaia Saumi- Marist Brothers High School

19. Asi Fuli- Marist Brothers High School

20. Emosi Vucago- Cuvu Collge

21. Saula Koroi- Suva Grammar School

22. Sefanaia Naqama- Sila Central High School

23. Alifereti Raka- Queen Victoria School

24. Solomoni Senikuraciri- Niusawa Methodist High School (Taveuni)

25. Timoci Nagusa Jnr- Marist Brothers High School

26. Vatemosi Ravonu-Ratu Kadavulevu School

27. Jone Raibevu- Queen Victoria School

28. Aporosa Lalabalavu- Marist Brothers High School

29. Epeli Rabaka – No.8 – Marist Brothers High School