For decades numerous talented young Fijian rugby players have had no choice but to go overseas to pursue their sporting dreams. What is less well known is how young many of them were when they had to make this choice. The list of young players going off to overseas high schools or clubs in their mid-to-late teens is extraordinary. We hear of the successful ones – Sevu Reece, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Semi Radradra et al. But for many, the cultural and language barriers are significant. Loneliness is a problem, and young players overwhelmed by the pressure of the opportunity to provide for their family end up underperforming. The cost for the many that “don’t make it” in terms of poor personal outcomes can be extremely high.

The Drua Academy has been created to allow young Fijian rugby talent to stay on the island, without having to leave their family and their community behind, and still have a clear development route to a career in professional full-time rugby via the Fijian Drua's ongoing participation in the Super Rugby Pacific competition.