Fijian Drua injects $108M to the nations GDP during the 2025 season

$108 million has been injected into and generated for the nation’s Gross Domestic Product by the Fijian Drua during the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season, according to an independent analysis by ANZ Research.

The report published on ANZ's Pacific Insight is authored by Dr Kishti Sen, ANZ’s International Economist for the Pacific and Tom Kenny, ANZ's Senior International Economist.

They say these impact includes $26 million in direct spending from ticket sales, stadium operations, and in game purchases and an additional $82 million in indirect benefits, driven by sports tourism, flights, accommodation, transport, retail, media, and advertising sectors.

General Manager Commercial Shane Hussein says this is more than rugby and the Drua have become a national economic engine.

Hussein states every home game now acts as a catalyst for growth, creating jobs, filling seats on our national airline, filling up rooms at the Tanoa Hotel Group and other hotels, supporting local businesses, and showcasing Fiji to the world.

He says the report validates what they have known all along - that the Drua aren’t just competing in Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific, they helping drive Fiji forward.

He adds every 1 dollar spent on game day experiences generated $2.31 million in economic activity across the country and over 58,000 spectators attended home games, with thousands of overseas visitors boosting tourism revenue and international broadcast of Drua matches to millions of homes have elevated Fiji’s global profile, positioning the nation as a premier sports tourism destination.

Lead author Dr Kishti Sen says one of the Pacific’s foremost economic analysts, described the Drua’s impact as the largest recurring economic event in Fiji outside of the Pacific Games underscoring the club's vital role in stimulating business activity and driving growth.

Sen says looking ahead, the Drua are committed to partnering with stakeholders, sponsors, and government agencies to build on this momentum.

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will play 7 home games in the 2026 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season, with their first match against the Moana Pasifika on 14th February in Lautoka.