The Classic Wallabies will travel to Fiji next week to assist community based programs in partnership with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The eight Classics will be led by 16-Test flanker and Fox Sports commentator Stephen Hoiles as they host a variety of coaching clinics along the Coral Coast from Nadi to Suva.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to give back to Fijian Rugby which has offered so much to Australian Rugby over the years,” Classic Wallabies manager Stephen Hoiles said.
The week-long visit will culminate in an exhibition game between the Classic Wallabies and Fiji Legends that features as curtain raiser to the National Rugby Championship match between the Fijian Drua and Perth Spirit in Suva on Saturday afternoon.
Rugby fans with the rare chance to see famous Fijian Australians Lote Tuqiri and Radike Samo wear the green and gold when they take on a star-studded home side captained by World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee and Fijian legend Waisale Serevi.
“Radike and Lote were both born in Fiji and went on to have great careers representing Australia, so to have them on board is really special,” Hoiles said.
“The game is so big already in Fiji and with the support of DFAT and the Fijian Rugby Union we’re really looking forward to helping to continue to grow the game we all love.
“It’s even better that we have been able to organise this around the Fijian Drua home game against Perth Spirit.”
“We’ve seen how positive their inclusion in the National Rugby Championship has been and there’s definitely going to be a huge crowd over in Suva watching them play.”
Current Wallabies squad members and Fiji-born superstars Henry Speight and Tevita Kuridrani along with Brumbies teammate Josh Mann-Rea and Australian Women’s Sevens co-captain Shannon Parry will also spend time visiting local villages to share the game their passion for the game with local rugby loving kids.
“It’s also awesome to have guys like Henry and Tevita on board too, they’re heroes to a lot of kids in Fiji and still playing at the highest level of international rugby” Hoiles said.
The Classic Wallabies will base themselves at the Warwick Hotel on the Coral Coast, who helped support the event.
Classic Wallabies travelling to Fiji
Radike Samo
Lote Tuqiri
Mark Chisholm
Matt Hodgson
Morgan Turinui
Stephen Hoiles
