Nine Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players, including Joseva Tamani and Kalaveti Ravouvou, will be leaving the franchise at the end of the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Tamani, 26, will be joining French club Colomiers, while Ravouvou will be heading to English club Bristol.
The other players who will be departing after being with the Fijian Drua since its inception are Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Chris Minimbi, Raikabula Momoedonu, Rusiate Nasove, Kalione Nasoko, Sorovakatini Tuifagalele, and Kitione Taliga, according to a statement posted on the Fijian Super Rugby Pacific club’s website.
Fijian Drua Chief Executive Mark Evans thanked the players for their contributions over the past two years, including in the fulfillment of a 25-year dream for Fijian Rugby.
“Their names will go down in history as being among those who started this Drua journey in Super Rugby Pacific. We have achieved much in our first two seasons of Super Rugby, due in no small part to the contribution of these nine players. On behalf of everyone in the Fijian Drua family, we’d like to say a big ‘vinaka vakalevu’ and ‘sota tale’ to Pasi, Chris, Ricks, Rusi, Joe, Kala, Kali, Soro, and Kiti.
“They helped make a 25-year dream a reality for Fijian Rugby by being one of the first players to don a Fijian Drua jersey. Farewells like these are always sad, but doing this now allows us as a Club, before the conclusion of the season, to acknowledge and celebrate them.”
The departing players will be recognised during the final home match of the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua this season, which will take place against the Queensland Reds in Suva this Saturday. The match is scheduled to kick off at 4.35pm at the HFC Bank Stadium.
Photo: Fijian Drua
