Waratahs winger of Fijian heritage Mark Nawaqanitawase will be playing his milestone 50th Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific match in front of family tomorrow when they face the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua in Lautoka.
Nawaqanitawase’s father’s family who are from Nalebaleba, Navosa will be coming down to watch Mark play.
He says the whole village is trying to get out there, which would be pretty cool.
The 23-year-old says it is very special to have a Fijian side in Super Rugby, and for a lot of the boys who have Fijian heritage, it is pretty cool to be able to go back to where the families are from and play in front of them.
He says they are not expecting any favours from the Drua, who are as desperate as the Tahs to post a much-needed victory.
Both sides enter the match with a one-from-four record this campaign and struggling to stay in touch with the competition pacesetters, with the Waratahs ninth and Drua 10th on the 12-team ladder.
Intriguingly, both sides’ only wins this season have come against the defending champions, the Crusaders.
In the double header tomorrow, the Fijian Drua Men play the Waratahs at 1.05pm before the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women’s side face the Waratahs at 3.35pm.
In other games, the Hurricanes host the Rebels at 6.05pm tonight, the Brumbies meet Moana Pasifika at 8.35pm while the Chiefs play the Highlanders at 3.35pm tomorrow, the Blues play the Crusaders at 6.05pm and the Force meet the Reds at 8.35pm.
