To the commentators and anyone else conflating the Fijian Drua with the Flying Fijians, listen closely. The statement that the Flying Fijians are merely “the Drua plus Viliane Mata” is not only idiotic but profoundly disrespectful to the legacy of Fijian rugby. It confuses a club with a country, a franchise with a nation.
The difference is not minor; it is absolute and exists on multiple levels.
1. Legal Identity and Purpose: The “Why”
- The Fijian Drua is a Franchise. It is a professional club team, a business entity created to compete in Super Rugby Pacific. Its primary purpose is high-performance competition and commercial success. Crucially, and this is the point you are missing, it was explicitly established as a high-performance pathway and a feeder system to develop players for the ultimate goal: representing Fiji on the international stage. The Drua is the means, not the end.
- The Flying Fijians are the National Team. They are not a franchise. They are the representative side of the Fiji Rugby Union, the sovereign governing body for the sport in the country. They do not “play for” a commercial league; they play for the people of Fiji. Their purpose is national pride, international glory, and carrying the hopes of a nation. They are the end goal that the Drua feeder system was built to supply.
2. Representation: The “Who”
- The Drua represents a brand. They represent the Fijian Drua Super Rugby franchise. While they inspire Fijians everywhere, they play for their coaches, their management, and their fans in the context of a club competition. They wear the Drua jersey.
- The Flying Fijians represent a nation. They represent every single citizen of Fiji, every Fijian living abroad, and the entire history of the nation. They are the custodians of a sacred legacy built by legends like Serevi, Nakaitaci, and Matavesi. They don the national colors—the white shirt with the mighty Fijian crest. This jersey is not merely a uniform; it is a symbol of national identity. To reduce it to a “Drua jersey plus a badge” is an insult to every player who has ever earned the honor of wearing it.
3. Player Composition: The “How”
This is where your argument collapses completely.
- The Drua is bound by contract and selection policy. Its squad is built within a salary cap, with a mix of local and international (though often Fijian-eligible) players. Their selection is based on form, fit for the club’s strategy, and contractual agreements.
- The Flying Fijians select from a global talent pool. The Flying Fijians coaching staff has the entire world of professional rugby from which to select any eligible Fijian player. This includes:
- Stars based in Europe (France, England, Ireland).
- Stars based in Japan and other Top League competitions.
- Stars based in New Zealand (All Blacks, Mitre 10 Cup) and Australia (Wallabies, Super Rugby teams other than the Drua).
- Yes, it also includes the best performers from the Fijian Drua.
The Flying Fijians team is not “the Drua plus one.” It is a curated selection of the best Fijian players on the planet, many of whom have never worn a Drua jersey. To claim otherwise is to ignore the vast diaspora of Fijian talent excelling in leagues across the globe.
Conclusion: A Sacred Distinction
The Fijian Drua is a brilliant, successful, and beloved vehicle for developing Fijian rugby. Its success is a point of immense national pride, and it has undoubtedly strengthened the depth available to the national team.
However, the Flying Fijians are the destination.
Calling the national team “the Drua plus one” is like calling a five-star meal “a few groceries plus a chef.” It misses the entire point of selection, artistry, national pride, and legacy. It confuses the ingredients with the final, sacred product.
The Flying Fijians stand on their own. They carry a weight no franchise team can ever carry. They are not an “all-star” version of a club side; they are the embodiment of a nation. Understand the difference, and show the jersey, the team, and the nation the respect they deserve.
Pasifika Talanoa by a traveled ITaukei Fijian 