The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua has announced its 2025 Shop N Save Super Rugby squad which features 32 Flying Fijians including the national co-captain. The announcement today also caps off a successful off-season recruitment drive, where all five new signings for 2025 are Flying Fijians who are expected to make a big impact on the competition. Three squad members are Silver Medallists in Rugby 7s at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The development squad features a number of talented young Fijian players on the pathway to bigger honours in the coming years.

Fijian Drua Head Coach Glen Jackson said: “It’s a very well-balanced side. We haven’t lost many players from last year and the ones that we’ve brought in have experience, mostly from overseas. You’ll see guys like Joe Tamani coming back from France – he gave us excitement for the first two years, and he missed the third year. So, we’ve for a good balance in what still a very young team.”

Co-Captains

The Fijian Drua has also announced co-captains for the first time in its short history, with hooker Tevita Ikanivere and halfback Frank Lomani handed the leadership reins for the new season.

The powerhouse hooker is no stranger to the role, having led the Drua on multiple occasions in the past two seasons. Ikanivere also has the most Fijian Drua appearances in the competition (38) and features second on the try scoring list for the Club (10 tries). He is also co-captain of the Flying Fijians and led the national win over a historic win against Wales on Monday morning.

He shares the captaincy with star halfback Frank Lomani who is the most experienced player in the squad with 53 appearances, 28 of which have been for the Drua. Lomani is one of only two players in the squad with 100 Super Rugby Pacific points.

Ikanivere said: “It is a very big honour and a pleasure for me to be chosen. I thank Jacko (Glen Jackson) for believing in my capabilities to help lead the team this year.”

On getting the captaincy call-up, Lomani shared: “(I’m) really excited and pretty emotional because I didn’t really expect to be called up to be co-captain with Tex (Ikanivere). Three years into this competition and going onto the fourth year, this team has come a long way. And being there since year one, I’m excited to be here with the Drua.”

New Recruits

The squad has been bolstered by the arrival of 50-Test capped Flying Fijian Peni Ravai. The big front rower joins the Drua from the Queensland Reds, where he amassed 27 caps and scored three tries. Tough centre Inia Tabuavou joins the Drua from Racing 92 in France’s Top 14 competition, where he made 8 appearances and scored two tries.

Vuate Karawalevu, who featured for the NSW Waratahs in 2024 also returns to Fiji and will compete for a back three spot in a squad bursting with flyers. The 23-year-old made his debut for the Flying Fijians in the Pacific Nations Cup game against Samoa in August.

Lanky speedster and Paris Olympics Silver Medalist Ponipate Loganimasi joins the Club after a short stint with the Fiji 7s and an impressive debut with the National 15’s side in the recent Pacific Nations Cup.

Making his return is flanker Joseva Tamani, who re-joins the Drua from the Colomiers Rugby Club in France’s Pro D 2 competition.

The Squad

The loosehead props in the squad are Flying Fijians Haereiti Hetet and Livai Natave alongside Emosi Tuqiri, who was a national 15s squad member in 2023. The tighthead props cohort includes Mesake Doge, Samuela Tawake, Meli Tuni and Peni Ravai. The Drua will feature an all-Flying Fijian trio of hookers consisting of co-captain Ikanivere, Mesulame Dolokoto and Zuriel Togiatama.

The second row includes Flying Fijians lock Isoa Nasilasila, who has the second most Drua appearances in Super Rugby Pacific (37). Alongside him are Leone Rotuisolia, Mesake Vocevoce, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta and Sailosi Vukalokalo.

A powerful backrow contingent includes Flying Fijian flankers Meli Derenalagi, Vilive Miramira, Etonia Waqa, Joseva Tamani, Elia Canakaivata and former Fiji U20 captain Motikiai Murray.