We have a good progression in our pathways and a healthy academy system - Raiwalui

Fiji Water Flying Fijians head coach Simon Raiwalui has expressed his thoughts on the impacts that the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players have brought into the squad after two seasons of participating in the Super Rugby Pacific competition and says that it is showing results.

While speaking on the Rugby Pod podcast , Raiwalui says there have been positive results during this Rugby World Cup and in the next two World Cups in 2027 and 2031, fans will be able to fully see the positive impacts of having a Fijian team in the Super Rugby Pacific competition.

He says there is a good progression through the Fiji Rugby Union pathways and they have got a healthy academy system that provides the talent not only for Fiji but for other places as well.

He adds the impact these Fijian Drua players bring into the squad and blending it in with the players playing professionally in Europe and Japan, it is going to be different.

Raiwalui says this current group of players are special and is built for the long term and he loves working with them.

The Flying Fijians will take on Portugal at 7am next Monday in Toulouse.

Fiji will only need one point from this match to qualify for the cup quarter finals after a lapse of 16 years.

In other games coming up this week, New Zealand will play Uruguay at 7am Friday while France face Italy at 7am Saturday. 

Rugby World Cup - Bronze and Grand Final