The Fijian Drua have unveiled their 2026 Super Rugby Pacific squad, which features 29 capped Flying Fijians alongside four Drua Development players heading to the big stage for the first time.
Thursday’s announcement highlights a successful off-season recruitment drive, with six new additions expected to play key roles in the 2026 campaign, as well as re-signing those expected to be a big part of the Club’s future. An impressive 13 players in the squad are ‘Drua Originals’ – players who were part of the first ever Fijian Drua squad which assembled in 2022 for the team’s first ever Super Rugby Pacific season.
NEW RECRUITS
The squad has been strengthened with the addition of Flying Fijian Temo Mayanavanua, who brings with excellent experienced and leadership skills. The towering lock joins the Drua from Northampton Saints, where he made 35 appearances and scored a try. He has played 59 first class matches between Saints and Lyon in France’s Top 14 competition.
The dynamic Joji Nasova joins the Drua from the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team, where he earned a spot in the 2025 HSBC SVNS Men’s Dream Team and finished as joint top scorer with 26 tries. He is already a capped Flying Fijian in 2025.
Iosefo Namoce will compete for the centre position after playing for the Fijian 7s at last year’s Oceania 7s tournament in the Solomon Islands. He is a product of local competition pathways, featuring regularly for Suva in the country’s premier provincial competition. He played in Canberra’s John I Dent Cup for Gungahlin Eagles I the recent off-season.
Angelo Smith joins the Club after making 20 appearances and scoring 4 tries for the Melbourne Rebels. The 24-year-old lock also offers versatility, capable of playing at blindside flanker. He spent the off-season playing for Lautoka in the local provincial competition.
Manasa Mataele joins the Drua to continue an impressive Super Rugby Pacific career, featuring in 58 matches — 32 for the Crusaders, 24 with the Western Force, and 2 with the Chiefs. He was also part of the Canterbury side that recently reclaimed the Bunnings NPC title from Otago, securing their 15th national championship and first since 2017.
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa joins the Drua from the Western Force, where he made 45 appearances, and the ACT Brumbies (11 appearances). The former Australian international has announced his intention to represent Fiji, with his three-year stand-down period concluding in October 2026. Eligible through his Fijian-born father, Fines-Leleiwasa has strong roots in Vatani, Kaba, Tailevu. The 2023 Rugby World Cup Wallaby brings an exceptional set of skills to the halfback quartet of the Drua.
DEVELOPMENT PLAYERS PROMOTED
The Fijian Drua continues its proud track record of progressing players along the pathway to professional rugby. The 2026 squad sees the promotion of four promising players from last year’s development group to the main Swire Shipping Fijian Drua squad for the 2026 season.
Wingers Isikeli Basiyalo and Aisea Nawai, centre Maika Tuitubou, and hooker Kavaia Tagivetaua have all signed full-time multi-year contracts, making them eligible for selection in the matchday 23 next season.
THE SQUAD
The loosehead props in the squad in the squad are Flying Fijians Haereiti Hetet and Peni Ravai alongside Emosi Tuqiri.
The tighthead props cohort includes Mesake Doge, Samuela Tawake and Meli Tuni.
The Drua’s hooker roster will include Mesulame Dolokoto, Zuriel Togiatama and Kavaia Tagivetaua.
The second row includes Flying Fijians lock and 2025 Drua Men’s Player of the Year Isoa Nasilasila, who has the most Drua appearances in Super Rugby Pacific (50). Alongside him are Mesake Vocevoce, Vilive Miramira, Temo Mayanavanua and Angelo Smith.
A powerful backrow contingent includes Flying Fijians flankers Etonia Waqa, Kitione Salawa, Isoa Tuwai, Elia Canakaivata, Motikiai Murray and 2025 Bunnings NPC finalist Joseva Tamani.
The halfback group will be led by Frank Lomani, joined by Flying Fijians Simione Kuruvoli and Philip Baselala. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa rounds out the quartet.
The flyhalf group includes Drua’s top points scorer Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula (181), alongside sharpshooter Kemu Valetini and Isikeli Rabitu.
In the midfield, 2025 Tanoa Hotels Community Champion Tuidraki Samusamuvodre will lead the centres alongside Inia Tabuavou, Joji Nasova, Iosefo Namoce, and Maika Tuitubou.
In the back three, speedster and 2025 Pepsi Drua Men’s Rookie of the Year Ponipate Loganimasi is joined by Taniela Rakuro, Manasa Mataele, Ilaisa Droasese, Epeli Momo, Isikeli Basiyalo and Aisea Nawai.
“We’re delighted to present to the people of Fiji and our fans all over the world their Swire Shipping Fijian Drua squad for 2026. It’s very exciting to welcome some experienced players like Temo, Manasa and Angelo into our group. It’s also important for us to retain a strong core group of players who have been with us from the very beginning of this journey, like Miramira, Zuriel, Mesu and Tuidraki. Everyone at the Fijian Drua is looking forward to the upcoming season.”
“Our seven home games in the new season will be another showcase for the best rugby experience in the competition. Our players love playing at home in front of their families, friends and the Drua Nation, and to be able to play for the first time ever in Ba will be truly special for the team,” said Glen Jackson, Fijian Drua Head Coach
He added: “The promotion of Kavaia, Maika, Basiyalo and Nawai from Drua Development to the main squad is another cause for celebration. They have worked hard to earn these upgrades, it’s brilliant for them and bolsters our squad significantly. All of them are raring to go and fight for spots in the matchday 23 every week.”
The Club will announce the squad captaincy at a later stage. The Drua squad is now actively in the Pre-Season campaign except for those players in the Flying Fijians November Tests Squad.
