Former New Zealand All Blacks star Eroni Clarke has praised the Fijian Drua for its remarkable progress in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition, as the team embarks on its fifth season. Speaking at the competition’s launch in Auckland, Clarke reminisced about the Drua’s early challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic when the team operated out of Lennox Hill, Australia, and participated in the National Rugby Championship.
Clarke expressed immense pride in the growth of the Drua, alongside fellow Pacific team Moana Pasifika, highlighting their successful transition into Super Rugby. “I’m so proud of the way the Drua and Moana Pasifika have done in such a short time. I know the Drua has been successful in Australia, and to see them continue that through Super Rugby was really important,” he remarked.
The former All Black, who also represented the Blues and Highlanders, pointed out that the advancement of the Drua and Moana Pasifika has had a positive impact on the talent pool available to national teams, including the Flying Fijians, as well as the Samoan and Tongan squads. “It leads to us having stronger teams for the Flying Fijians, Ikale Tahi (Tonga), and Manu Samoa,” he noted. Clarke emphasized the significance of having Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa emerge as stronger rugby nations on the global stage.
As rugby continues to thrive in Fiji, Clarke expressed hope for both the Drua and Moana Pasifika to maintain their upward trajectory, recognizing the positive implications for the future of the sport. He is particularly excited about their upcoming match at Churchill Park in Lautoka, scheduled for Saturday at 3:30 PM, which is seen as another opportunity for both teams to showcase their development in front of their passionate supporters. Clarke’s legacy in rugby also continues through his son Caleb, who plays as a winger for the All Blacks and the Blues, marking a proud lineage in the sport.