Doge eyes WC spot
MISSING out on two previous Rugby World Cups, prop Mesake Doge has his eyes on the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Doge, who has joined the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side for the 2023 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season, says the decision to leave his club in Europe was not easy.
“It was a big decision for me to give up the contracts in the European continent and come back. I have been missing on the criteria of being selected for four years,” Doge said.
“So I came in 2016 after the 2015 Rugby World Cup. After that I went for four years so I missed the 2019 Rugby World Cup again.
“This is going to be big for me and time is not going to wait around for anyone.”
Doge made his debut for the Flying Fijians in 2016. He also played the two tests against the All Blacks in 2021.
He represented Rugby Timioara during the 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup. He joined Brive in 2019, making 24 appearances over two seasons. In July 2021, he joined Pro14 side Dragons.
Doge said he only wished he could have the facilities available now nine years ago.
“I wish that this was around back nine years ago. This will be a good experience for me. I always tell them that I am grateful for the opportunity to be here and to see this development but I only wish it was there back then.
“There have been so many rugby players who have come through the ranks without proper facilities such as this and proper training.”
The 29-year-old added having a Super Rugby franchise of our own had been the dream of every Fijian supporter.
“We watched the boys play and it brings so much pride back into the nation. I think we are so used to the 7s, we are so used to the Flying Fijians coming occasionally to play but we have a Super Rugby team now.
“Super Rugby has been played so close around us as we have even seen the Crusaders, Chiefs and Highlanders come and play but we never had a team and that is something that we were missing.”
Meanwhile, the 2023 season kicks off in February and the Fijian Drua play the Moana Pacifika in the opening round on February 25 at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand.
We face the Waratahs in our first home game of the season in Round 2. The match against the Waratahs kicks off at 8.35pm on March 4 in Melbourne.
In Round 3, the Fijian Drua will be in action in front of home fans when they host the Crusaders at Churchill Park at 3.35pm on Saturday, March 11.