The Fijian Drua's rise has been the shining moment of Super Rugby Pacific.
The energy that the inclusion has brought to the competition has justified the Pacific shift so much fans and pundits alike are calling for Super Round to become 'Bula Round' in 2024.
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It's remarkable to think two years ago the Drua was a project team only just issued a licence a couple of months earlier.
Now they sit on the precipitate of their first finals appearance against the most successful team in Super Rugby history, the Crusaders.
Their success is only amplified by looking at the fate of other expansion teams.
The Force and the Rebels haven't made the finals since their inception in 2007 and 2011 respectively whilst it took a Jaguares' team stacked with Argentinian internationals three years to make it before their eventual march into the Super Rugby Final.
Their influence on Fijian Rugby has been clear to see from the start, offering an opportunity for unheralded talent to shine on a world stage.
Vinaya Habosi was the standout player in 2022 and instantly found himself debuting for Fiji courted by French club Racing 92 before being released from the Drua following a 'high-level breach of the club’s code of conduct.'
There are 23 players in Fiji's 45-player wider Rugby World Cup, with standouts Joseva Tamani, Meli Derenalagi and Iosefi Masi named as debutants.
“Part of the project here was to improve the national team and while I have divided loyalties when it comes to the Rugby World Cup, the Drua will have an impact on how the Flying Fijians go in France," CEO Mark Evans told Rugby Pass
"They are going to be a good team and Drua will probably have 13 or 15 of the 33 man squad and that is a big change for Fiji to have nearly half the squad playing regularly together – just as like the Super Rugby Jaguares side helped Argentina.
“We are now getting enquiries from Fijians overseas and there are over 200 Fijians playing abroad...Most players between 16 and 19 years of age go to Australia, New Zealand, France or Japan. In France they become French qualified under their JIFF (Joueurs Issus des Filières de Formation) rules and they can become naturalised in New Zealand and Australia.
"Can we stop that entirely? Probably not, but can we reduce it? – yes. A lot of French scouts come for the schools competition which is huge and there are number of Fijian youngsters about to get into Top 14 squads from the espoirs."
If this was to come to fruition, the Drua can become an unstoppable powerhouse given the Fijian-born or bred talent across Super Rugby Pacific.
Front-row duo Alex Hodgman and George Bower would add significant power to the pack, facing off for the Blues and Crusaders in last year's Super Rugby Pacific final with Reds star Seru Uru and Rebels young gun Angelo Smith adding depth to the second row.
Rob Valetini would link with brother Kemu in the squad to form a powerful back-row group including Waratahs gun Langi Gleeson, Pita Gus Sowakula and Isi Naisarani as Issak Fines-Leleiwasa pushes former Rebel Frank Lomani in the halves.
The thought of Levi Aumua in a centres group alongside breakout star Iosefi Masi and Ravouvou is enough to give any opposition nightmares whilst a back-three of Sevu Reece, Manasa Mataele and Mark Nawaqanitawase would be unstoppable to stop, particularly with the likes of Jona Nareki, Suli Vunivalu, Nemani Nadolo and Timoci Tavatavanawai waiting in the wingers.
It's easy to see why Evans remains so confident about the success of the Drua if it can serve as a pathway for the next generation of talent, with coach Mick Byrne already recognising the growth from exposing players to the professional lifestyle at a young age,
“They’re doing their homework, eating well. All the little things that people especially like me, take for granted, but these boys had never done it before," Byrne said after last week's win over the Reds.
"They deserve everything they've got tonight...we're taking it all in. It's a pretty special moment this one. We've come from a long way back. It's a great night for us.”
FIJIAN DRUA POTENTIAL SQUAD
Alex Hodgman, Tevita Ikanivere, George Bower, Seru Uru, Angelo Smith, Rob Valetini, Meli Derenalagi (c), Langi Gleeson, Frank Lomani, Teti Tela, Sevu Reece, Levi Aumua, Iosefo Masi, Manasa Mataele, Mark Nawaqanitawase
RESERVES: Mesu Dolokoto, Peni Ravai, Mesake Doge, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Pita Gus Sowakula, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Kalaveti Ravouvou/Kemi Valetini, Jona Nareki
EXTENDED SQUAD
Suli Vunivalu, Pita Gus Sowakula, Nemani Nadolo, Mosese Dawai, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rahboni Warren-Vosatayco, Chay Finaki, Salesi Rayasi, Isi Naisarani, Emoni Nawara, Soane Vikena
