The main challenge facing the Fijian Drua selection panel currently is the time frame for signing up players which only started two weeks ago.
As a result a few players targeted by the Fijian Drua slipped through the net signing up contracts overseas. Fiji Rugby general manager high performance Simon Raiwalui revealed that they have a depth chart of 100 players from which the 37 are to be selected. He said they were looking at a number of players.
“There are players with Super Rugby experience and also players who have National Provincial Championship experience playing in New Zealand,” Raiwalui said.
“We also have players who have playing experience in Australia and have players coming out of Fiji.
“We had players that we targeted who have signed on contracts elsewhere because of time restraints. Obviously we only started two weeks ago and players could not wait for the Fijian Drua to come along. But as we started recruiting, no players have rejected the Fijian Drua offer.”
The Fijian Drua concept is seen as a set-up to entice overseas based players to return play in a professional competition which is closer to home.
“Another challenge the Fijian Drua will face is being based in Australia for the first season next year. Raiwalui said one thing that we are blessed with in Fiji was that there was a lot of talent. We have got an extensive depth chart,” he said.
“We are basically limited primarily to the Southern hemisphere, so our targets are Fiji also looking into Australia and New Zealand. “We are recruiting and have a lot of interest. One of the interesting things is that players are returning home to play for the Fijian Drua and play for a team representing Fiji.
“There are different challenges one of which is playing in Australia for the first year to that playing in Fiji. “But at the moment we are not having too many troubles. We have a salary arrangement that’s with the player and the Fijian Drua and it is confidential.”
