Explosive winger and former Fiji Water Flying Fijian Manasa Mataele will return home for his 10th season in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition after signing with the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua for 2026.
The Drua says Mataele, who is originally from Vanuavatu in Lau with maternal links to Yasawa-i-Rara, grew up in Raiwai, Suva and attended Marist Brothers High School.
He has strong roots in Fijian rugby, playing for Marist Brothers High Scool in the Deans competition and being a part of the Fiji U18 team in 2015.
The 28-year-old has made 58 Super Rugby Pacific appearances (32 for the Crusaders, 24 with the Western Force and 2 with the Chiefs).
The Drua says Mataele is known for both scoring tries and setting them up, normally leading match statistics for line breaks.
In 2022, Mataele had the second-highest statistics in the entire competition for clean breaks and metres gained.
He will bring this invaluable experience to a young Fijian Drua backline for the 2026 season.
Mataele says he is feeling excited and really looking forward to representing the Drua next season.
Fijian Drua General Manager Rugby Baden Stephenson says Mataele is a quality player who has been in good programs and knows what success looks like.
He says his experience will be invaluable, as well as his ability to find the tryline and be a natural communicator in the back three positions.
Mataele made his debut for Flying Fijians in 2021 and has made four appearances since. He also made 51 New Zealand provincial appearances- 31 for the Canterbury and 20 for the Taranaki.
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