Fijian Drua in Kadavu

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua are keeping in tradition with their previous pre-season training and will be in Kadavu till Friday afternoon.

The team are based at Namalata where Head of Athletic Performance Naca Cawanibuka is from.

They had their first run yesterday at the Namalata District School Ground.

Last year they had their pre-season training in Rakiraki and the previous year on the Coral Coast.

A couple of Drua players have links to Kadavu like Kemu Valetini, Simione Kuruvoli, and Philip Baselala.

This is a chance for the team to connect with the people as well as a team bonding exercise for the players.

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Coach Glen Jackson says the team were accorded a traditional welcome on their arrival to Kadavu for their pre-season training camp.

Jackson says they have been blessed with good weather and also had some fresh fish for breakfast.

He says the team had a walk around and rugby session before their team building session where the team had to make cardboard boats to race on the water.

The Drua coach says they ended their first day on the island with a Lotu and dinner.

The team is based in Namalata, where Head of Athletic Performance Naca Cawanibuka is from.

Watch on TikTok

Having the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua come and camp in Kadavu for a week means a lot to halfback Simione Kuruvoli as it is good for the boys to connect with families and see their roots back on the island.

Speaking from Kadavu, Kuruvoli says the trip means a lot to him as they don’t usually come to the islands often.

The 25-year-old, who is from Nabouwalu Village on Ono Island, Kadavu, says the boys enjoyed the training in the past two days, giving back to the roots, especially the young kids.

The Fijian Drua are keeping with tradition for their pre-season training, and they will be in Kadavu till Friday afternoon.

Last year, they had their pre-season training in Rakiraki and the previous year, it was at the Coral Coast.

Drua CEO Mark Evans says this is a chance for the players and staff who are from Kadavu to connect with the people and take the people's team to them.

He says it is also a team bonding exercise for the players.

Members of the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua team and staff took part in a community project where they came together to paint the school and staff toilets at Namalata Central School.

Drua Head of Athletic Performance Naca Cawanibuka says this is their way of giving back to the school, doing something that will leave their imprint to the school and the community.

Cawanibuka says it is an activity that gets players and the staff together.

Cawanibuka says at the same time they are building memories of working together during this special time of the year, coming together as a community with their people in Kadavu.

He says it is also great to see the staff invested in doing things together with the players.

Cawanibuka says he believes this is what they would like to build into their own Drua DNA to ensure that they continue to build layer upon layer to become a stronger version of themselves.

He adds a better version of themselves and a much improved and stronger Drua side for the 2025 season.

Watch on TikTok

Kadavu Provincial Rugby Union President Lynda Tabuya is grateful to the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua for choosing Kadavu as part of their pre-season and community engagement for the year.

Tabuya says the Union was formed last year, and the Fijian Drua’s visit will boost the morale of their players.

Tabuya also acknowledged the management of the Fijian Drua for following the traditional protocol of asking the Vanua’s permission first before they undertook their pre-season program on the island.

The Fijian Drua will be in Kadavu until tomorrow afternoon.

It was an eye opening experience for Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players Breyton Legge and Kemu Valetini as the team had their pre-season training in Kadavu, and also because it is their first visit to their island home.

Valetini whose family is from Galoa Island says he feels really privileged to finally be in Kadavu with the team, and experience something different.

Watch on TikTok

He says when they train somewhere new they connect with the people, the land and the hospitality has been great, with unreal food.

Nakasaleka, Lawaki Drua loosehead prop Breyton Legge says it is a very humbling experience being home for the first time.

Legge says getting off the boat, it was an eye opener seeing the mountains and where they are camped with the beautiful sea right out front.

Drua halfback Philip Baselala who is from Nakasaleka says it really means a lot to him to be back home and to show the team the Hidden Paradise - that is Kadavu.

The Drua team returns to Suva this afternoon before they go on a two weeks break for Christmas and New Year.