Fijian Drua Women

Fijian Drua Women
Founded2022; 2 years ago (2022)
Ground(s)Churchill Park
(Capacity: 11,000)
HFC Bank Stadium
(Capacity: 15,000)
Coach(es)Mosese Rauluni
League(s)Super Rugby Women's
2024Runner-up
Official website
drua.rugby

The Fijian Drua Women (known as the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women for sponsorship reasons) are a Fijian rugby union team based in Fiji.[1][2] They compete in the Super Rugby Women's competition. They were crowned champions in their inaugural season in 2022, and successfully defended their title in 2023. The first official try to go into the history books for the Fijiana Drua Women’s rugby team was scored by hooker Jiowana Bulaoca Sauto during their inaugural Super W match against the Melbourne Rebels on March 5, 2022, at Endeavour Hills Rugby Grounds.

History

[edit]

Rugby Australia announced in February 2022 that the Fijiana Drua had joined the Super W competition.[1][2] The Fijiana Drua is the first Fijian team to join the competition with support from the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program.[1][2] The Fiji Rugby Union announced that Rooster Chicken were the official sponsors of the Fijiana Drua for the 2022 Super W season.[3][4]

Fijiana Drua won all matches of the 2022 Super W and claimed the title in their historic first season. They defeated the NSW Waratahs 32–26 in the final.[5][6][7] In November 2022, the Fijiana Drua confirmed their participation for the 2023 Super W season with two home and three away round-robin matches.[8][9][10]

The Fijiana Drua successfully defended their title for the 2023 Super W season, they defeated the Queensland Reds in the grand final 38–30.[11][12]

Name Change and Management

[edit]

On 8 December 2023, the team officially changed its name to Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women as they compete in the newly named Super Rugby Women's competition in 2024.[13] It was announced that the team would now be fully administered by the management of Counter Ruck Ltd.[13]

Mosese Rauluni was appointed as the new Head Coach for the side in January 2024.[14][15]

Current squad

[edit]

On 22 February, the squad for the 2024 Super Rugby Women's season was announced.[16]

Fijiana Drua Super W squad

Props

  • Fiji Anasimeci Korovata
  • Fiji Salanieta Nabuli
  • Fiji Loraini Seiniloli
  • Fiji Mereoni Vonosere
  • Fiji Tiana Robanakadavu
  • Fiji Siteri Rasolea

Hookers

  • Fiji Litia Marama
  • Fiji Keleni Marawa
  • Fiji Vika Matarugu
  • Fiji Una Lalabalavu

Locks

Loose Forwards

Scrum-halves

  • Fiji Noelani Baselala
  • Fiji Setaita Railumu
  • Fiji Evivi Senikarivi

Fly-halves

Centres

Wingers

  • Fiji Adita Milinia
  • Fiji Iva Sauira
  • Fiji Atelaite Buna

Fullbacks

  • Fiji Repeka Aditove
  • Fiji Luisa Basei
(cc) Denotes team co-captains, Bold denotes internationally capped and ST indicated short-term cover.

Season standings

[edit]
Year Position Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Play-offs
2022 Champion 5 5 0 0 184 51 +133 24 Defeated NSW Waratahs in the final
2023 Champion 5 2 0 3 88 118 –30 9 Defeated Queensland Reds in the final
2024 2nd 5 3 0 2 113 129 −16 13 Defeated by NSW Waratahs in the final

Coach

[edit]
Fijian Drua coaches by date, matches and win percentage*
Coach Period G W D L %
Senirusi Seruvakula 2022 5 5 0 0 100%
Inoke Male 2023 5 2 0 3 40%
Mosese Rauluni 2024– 7 4 0 2 66.66%
Totals (2022–present)* 17 11 0 6 64.70%
Updated to: 28 April 2024

Notes:

^* Official Super Rugby Women's competition matches only, including finals.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Williamson, Nathan (8 February 2022). "Fijiana Drua added to Super W for 2022". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Fijiana Drua Join Super W 2022". PacificAus Sports. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  3. ^ Prasad, Vashneel (11 March 2022). "Rooster Chicken is the official Fijiana Drua sponsor". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  4. ^ Matairakula, Talei (11 March 2022). "Rooster Chicken is official Fijiana Drua sponsor". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Fijiana Drua cap off unbeaten season with historic comeback win over Waratahs". the Guardian. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  6. ^ Magick, Samantha (25 April 2022). "Fiji celebrates historic Fijiana Drua win". Islands Business. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  7. ^ Williamson, Nathan (23 April 2022). "Fijiana Drua claim Super W title in epic Grand Final". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  8. ^ Prasad, Vashneel (23 November 2022). "Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua to defend Super W title with two home matches for next season". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Fijiana Drua to take SuperW to Fiji in 2023". ESPN.com. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  10. ^ Williamson, Nathan (22 November 2022). "Super W draw confirmed for 2023 season". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  11. ^ Williamson, Nathan (6 May 2023). "Fijian Drua claim back-to-back Super W titles after defeating Reds". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Fijiana Drua become Super W champions again as Reds suffer more grand final heartache". ABC News. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  13. ^ a b "FIJIANA DRUA TO COME UNDER COUNTER RUCK". Fijian Drua Rugby. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  14. ^ "RAULUNI APPOINTED HEAD COACH FOR FIJIAN DRUA WOMEN". Fijian Drua Rugby. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  15. ^ Matairakula, Talei (11 January 2024). "Rauluni new head coach for Fijian Drua Women". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  16. ^ "2024 ROOSTER CHICKEN FIJIAN DRUA WOMEN SQUAD NAMED". Fijian Drua Rugby. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
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