Couple jets in from Melbourne to support Drua
Michael and Marney Walls travelled from Melbourne, Australia, to watch the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific match between the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika at Lautoka’s Churchill Park, last Saturday.
“We’re very much rugby union fans, we’ve travelled the world following rugby and my father used to be in the Fiji Rugby board in the 1960s,” Marney said.
Marney is originally from New Zealand but was raised in Fiji and attended Suva Grammar school. “My family used to live in Tamavua as it’s been 40 years since I last came to Fiji and we’re just happy to be here again,” she said.
The Walls were also in Fiji to watch the Drua beat Melbourne Rebels 38-28 at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
“We’re here to support the Fijian Drua,” she said.
“I grew up in Auckland so Moana Pasifika is our second team but we’re in Fiji, go Drua,” Michael said.
He said that the addition of Pacific teams in the Super Rugby completion is great for World Rugby. “I think it’s fantastic, rugby worldwide is connecting to all nationalities playing especially the open running game that Fijians have, is now being picked up by many teams such as Argentina and France, which is all great to watch,” he said.
“The last time we watched Fiji play was at the 2007 Rugby World in Marseille, France in the quarterfinal match against South Africa, sadly they lost, “said Marney. Michael said the exposure in Super Rugby for the Pacific teams would develop their players in the long run especially at international level and the Rugby World Cup this year.
“I think Fiji can compete as long as they don’t get their important players poached, as every team in the world wants to have a Fijian rugby player and we need to keep more at home. I hope so, we’ll be following them (Flying Fijians),” Marney added.
I think it’s fantastic, rugby worldwide is connecting to all nationalities playing especially the open running game that Fijians have, is now being picked up by many teams such as Argentina and France, which is all great to watch. Michael Walls Super Rugby fan