Ben Volavola’s classy cameos this season should have reminded every fan of the rich connection between the Queensland Reds and Fijian rugby.
It’s a connection to celebrate from the stands tonight when the Reds face the unpredictable Fijian Drua at Suncorp Stadium in their final home game of the season in Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific.
Since Epi Bolawaqatabua first played for Queensland in 1967 and halfback Taito Rauluni donned the maroon jersey a decade later, there has been a stream of Fijian talent to play for the Reds and local clubs.
Players like 2011 Super Rugby-winning backrower Radike Samo, "The Human Skewer" Ilie Tabua, Samu Kerevi and current star Filipo Daugunu have risen to be cult heroes.
How good? Well, we took some time this week to pick our All-Time Fijian Queensland Reds XV.
Here goes:
All-Time Fijian Queensland Reds XV:
Peni Volavola, Isaac Rauluni, Peni Ravai, Ilaitia Savai, Radike Samo, Seru Uru, Ilie Tabua, Epi Bolawaqatabua, Jacob Rauluni, Ben Volavola, Ricky Nalatu, Samu Kerevi, Filipo Daugunu, Isei Nasiganiyavi, Ilaisa Droasese.
You’ll get some arguments on the wing for sure but this is more about highlighting the wonderful players who have emerged from the Pacific island.
We figure that the likes of Henry Speight, Suliasi Vunivalu and Sefa Naivalu all made their marks on the wing elsewhere before joining the Reds.
Nalatu, the one-time track sprinter, and Nasiganiyavi, who scored five tries for the Reds against Western Samoa in 1989, both came through the club ranks in Brisbane.
This star-studded line-up of try-power, thundering hits, tackle-splitting runners and fingertip passing skills doesn’t even include some of the Fijian Test stars who have dazzled in the Hospital Cup.
The likes of Epeli Turuva, Sela Gutugutuwai, Isimeli Batibasaga and Moses Rauluni have dominated for Brisbane club teams.
Flyhalf Volavola has injected his experience and polish from the bench for the Reds this season as he will again tonight.
Last weekend, it was his well-timed pass to Josh Flook that got the matchwinning Jock Campbell try rolling against Moana Pasifika in Auckand.
The only position we couldn’t fill in our Fijian Reds XV was at hooker.
We could have gone with a club pick and Quentin Raravula, who scored 18 tries for GPS as the top tryscorer in the 2025 Hospital Cup.
Instead, where better to recognise 2025 Australia Under-18s hooker Isaac Rauluni?
He is the third generation of the Rauluni family to represent Queensland at that level or above.
Taito came from Fiji in the 1970s and featured at halfback in some great Queensland sides beside Paul McLean and Co.
Son Jacob first played for the Reds in 1996 at halfback. He is now the proud father of four sons playing footy at different levels in the rugby codes.
