Drua On A Mission
Senirusi Seruvakula believes local players can deliver a positive outcome in the 2017 Australia National Rugby Championship (NRC) which kicks off next week.
The Fijian Drua coach is emphasising a winning team culture in camp before they face Brisbane City on September 2 and Melbourne Rising on September 9.
The Fijian Drua play Brisbane City at Ballymore Stadium and Melbourne Rising at Harlequins Oval.
“There are a lot of expectations from them and we have to start with a bang,” Seruvakula said. “We need to win these two games so that we can look at ourselves and work on a good platform.”
The Nasautoka, Wainibuka, Tailevu man feels the importance of local players believing in themselves and enjoying rugby.
“I believe in these local boys and the boys will need to believe in themselves,” he said.
“We just have to go out there and enjoy the moment, enjoy rugby.
“Players will need to play their guts out for their country.” Seruvakula will name his 26 players for the first and second round tomorrow.
The players will then break camp and regroup on Saturday night.
With first choice halfback, Serupepeli Vularika out injured, the likely replacements will be between Frank Lomani, Seru Cavuilati and Kini Douglas.
The side will have one session on Monday and will head down to the West on Tuesday where they will have a half day session and fly out to Australia on Wednesday. The Drua will then play their first home game two weeks later in round three on September 16 when they host NSW Country Eagles at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.
The other teams to make the trip to Fiji this year will be defending NRC champions Perth Spirit in Round 4 at the ANZ Stadium, Suva on September 23, Queensland Country in round eight on October 21 at Churchill Park, Lautoka and the Sydney Rays (Round 9) at the ANZ Stadium on October 28.