The ACT Brumbies Women have delivered a spirited performance but ultimately fell to the Fijian Drua, 42 - 25, in a highly entertaining Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s clash at Four R Stadium in Ba, Fiji.
Despite a valiant comeback that locked the scores at halftime, the Brumbies were unable to hold off a late surge from the home side in the testing Fijian conditions.
The Drua started fast, opening the scoring early when Repeka Tove chased down a clever chip into space by Varanisese Qoro, putting the home side up 5-0.
The Brumbies soon found their rhythm and asserted themselves on the contest.
Youngster Georgie Hayes halted a dangerous blindside break by dragging a charging Nunia Daunimoala into touch, turning the tide for the visitors to launch their counter-attack.
Ash Bishop put a deep kick into Drua territory, forcing an error from Litiana Vueti metres from her own line. The Brumbies capitalised from the ensuing scrum, with the ball moving swiftly through the hands for Bishop to cross and tie the game ten minutes in.
The home side quickly regained the lead, going bang-bang when Josivini Naihamu dived over the line before shortly after Sulita Waisega crashed across, extending the Drua's advantage to 15 to 5 just before the 20-minute heat management water break.
Following the pause, the Brumbies' defensive pressure forced a Drua line-out error. Launching a blindside move down the left before swinging wide, Palu Sekona gave the final pass for Bishop to slide over for her second try of the afternoon.
the back-and-forth contest continued, Drua striking back through outside centre, Merewairita Neivosa to make it 20 to 10.
The Brumbies, who are developing a harder edge to them in 2026, refused to back down. hard-running Outside centre, Bonnie Brewer, ran a sublime line to beat three players and carry a fourth across the line to bring her side within five points of the Drua as the clock ticked down to the end of the first half.
Moments later, the Drua were reduced to 14 players when Naihamu was sent to the sin bin for a late tackle, and the visitors immediately exploited the numerical advantage. Brilliant backline execution from 50 metres out sent Bishop galloping into open space to streak away for a superb first half hat-trick, locking the scores at 20-all heading into the break.
The visitors started the second half on the front foot, probing the home side's defence.
Unable to penetrate the line, they elected to take a penalty shot, but Ella Ryan's attempt dropped just short of the posts. The Drua responded immediately, with slick passing setting up Salaseini Railumu to edge the hosts ahead 25 to 20.
At the 50-minute mark, the Brumbies turned to their bench to inject fresh energy into the Super W contest. Ryan and Ashley Fernandez made way, prompting a reshuffle across the park. Paua Lee Going came on to the wing, Hayes stepped up to steer the team at fly-half, Bishop moved to full-back, and Grace Sullivan joined the locks.
Despite the tactical adjustments, the Drua extended their lead in the 61st minute when Karalaini Naisewa powered over from close range to make it 30 to 20.
A yellow card to the Drua's Keri Lawavou in the 68th minute offered the Brumbies a crucial opportunity. Tania Naden took immediate advantage of the extra player, scoring from close range to tighten the margin to 30 to 25 and setting up a grandstand finish.
However, the home side managed to close out the match with a late flurry.
A flowing sequence of passes put Tove in for her second try in the 73rd minute, and although Qoro's conversion attempt dropped short, the Drua's momentum was difficult to halt. In the 80th minute, Naihamu snatched an interception and raced away to seal the result, with Qoro nailing the final conversion in the 82nd minute to confirm the 42-to-25 scoreline.
The Brumbies will now return to Canberra for a bye in Round 4, before they turn their attention to their last match of the season against the Western Force, to be played out at home, at Viking Park on the 5th of July.
