Cheers of victory and joy filled the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva last night as the final whistle was blown to confirm the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua’s spot in the quarterfinals of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition.
The Mick Byrne coached side hammered the Reds 41-17, in a match that has catapulted the Drua into the annals of history.
They just needed a win to make it to the playoffs in only their second season! While there were many accolades for the extraordinary efforts of the Fijian Drua, Red’s skipper and halfback, Tate Dermott acknowledged the 16th player – the Drua fans.
“The Drua fans here tonight were just hostile and loud, giving off a very strong atmosphere that was in favour of the Drua,” he said.
The Drua had the upper-hand, with their fans cheering their hearts out whenever they made a line-break or unleashed bone crushing tackles.
“It was just a very different atmosphere, mostly loud, and we could tell that the Drua were feeding off it.”
The Drua fans lived up to expectations, and turned up the volume, consolidating the impact and impression they have built on over two seasons at every home game.
Last night people from all walks of life, and from around the country, came together to cheer their team on home soil for the last time this season.
As the sounds of joy echoed into the night, cheerful faces exited the Stadium, reflecting on a game that will become a memorable part of the Fijian Drua’s history.
