MELBOURNE RISING

Kerevi banks on Drua to grow

Fiji-born Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi has placed his money of the Fiji Airways Drua team to do well in the opening match against Melbourne Rising at the Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori this Saturday.

The Wallabies centre is in the country with Classic Wallabies who will play the Fiji Legends in the curtain-raiser at 2pm before the National Rugby Championship match at 3pm.

The 24-year-old is recovering from an injury that ruled him out of the opening two Bledisloe Cup tests.

“I think the Fijian Drua should really play well in 2018,”Kerevi said.

“They reach the semi final on debut last year and reaching the final this year would awesome.

“I think they should start well against Melbourne Rising.” He said the NRC should be the platform for the Fijians to try out Super Rugby and Fiji Airways Fijians. “There is much talent yet to be seen across the islands in Fiji. For me I use this as a trampoline into Super Rugby and obviously to national honours,”Kerevi said He believes that the NRC format should be extended to neighbours Samoa and Tonga.

“It is really important the NRC should branch out to Samoa and Tonga and really get the Pacific nations involved,” he said.

For the second straight year, the Classic Wallabies is on a tour of Fiji with a number of former and current stars spreading the rugby gospel.

This includes Fijians Radike Samo and dual international Lote Tuqiri. Also in the fold are recently retired Australian greats Stephen Moore and Rob Horne and Rebels prop Laurie Weeks.

“I am really excited and first time to be part of the Classic Wallabies obviously in Fiji makes it more special for me. Being at home with Mum and dad, see the Fijians go wild this weekend really good and the NRC game first one for 2018,” he said.

“We are pretty good to be part of it, I will out there with the boys and hope to assist them in one way or the other I can but I am still doing rehab at the moment.” Kerevi was involved in the launch of Christmas Carols for Koro Island at the Whyndham Resort, Denarau last night.

The players also visited and held clinics at Cuvu College, Sigatoka yesterday.

Photo: Zimbio From left: Adam Korczyk (Brisbane City), Angus Cottrel (Melbourne Rising), Ian Prior (Western Force), Ben Hyne (Canberra Vikings) Peni Raidre of Fiji Airways Drua), Duncan Paia’Aua (Queensland Country), Damien Fitzpatrick (Sydney Rays), Paddy Ryan (NSW Country) pose during the 2018 NRC season launch at Wests Rugby Club on August 28, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia.