The impact of the Drua on Fiji's national side since their 2022 inclusion in Super Rugby Pacific has been hard to ignore - and former head coach Simon Raiwalui believes the long term investment will yield even more success for the island nation.
The 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign was a disappointing one for the Fijian Drua, with only four wins and finishing second last on the ladder.
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However, it would be forgiven for not being considered a misstep in the recent history of success for Fijian rugby.
Since 2022, the side, firstly under Raiwalui as coach, made their first World Cup quarter finals since 2007, and have achieved five scalps against Tier One nations, including a first-ever win over England and their first victory over the Wallabies since 1954.
This form has only continued under Raiwalui's successor, Mick Byrne, with Fiji winning the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup and then defeating Wales in Cardiff for the first time ever.
Ahead of Fiji's first Test of 2025 in Newcastle, Raiwalui only reinforced how much Super Rugby has transformed the professional game in Fiji, having kept a close eye on the side since leaving after the 2023 World Cup.
"It's been huge for the development of those pathways within Fiji," Raiwalui told Rugby.com.au.
"Traditionally, at the age of the under 20s, players had to leave to go offshore to Europe, Australia, and New Zealand to gain opportunities. What the Drua has given is opportunities to say, 40-to-50 players to develop and play within the country.
"It's been a godsend. When we started the Drua, it was a long term project. We wanted to have success at the 2027 World Cup, but we want to have success further on with Fiji and develop rugby throughout the country.
"I think you will really see the results is in those future World Cups."
The transition into full professionalism for the Drua has come with its challenges, as evidenced by the 2025 campaign.
However, Raiwalui admitted that there have been many changes in the governance and running of the game, both on and off the field, to ensure synergy between the Drua and national team continues to thrive.
"It was a tough period, because we were bringing in a whole group of players from all over the world together in a short amount of preparation time," Raiwalui admitted of his brief stint as head coach.
"It's not the easiest thing in the world to do. We had a short runway.
"I wanted to build up the confidence and play for the emblem, play for what Fiji meant. The rugby side has never been the hard thing for Fiji.
"It's been the off-field stuff, getting the governance right, getting everything right on the culture side. I think they're going a long way to get that stuff right.
"[In Fiji, rugby] is more of a religion than a sport. Every man, woman and child loves it and plays it and is invested.
"You've seen the Drua, the crowds that they're getting in, the support they're getting. I think Fiji gets the same.
"If you're a coach in Fiji, you're at the beck and call of everybody in the country - because they are also coaches. They have an opinion. They tell you who should be picked, who's playing well. It is more than a sport, but it's a privilege to be part of."
That love and obsession with rugby extends beyond the borders of the country - with many thousands of Fijian fans expected to welcome the side to Newcastle on Sunday.
Despite it being a 'warm up' fixture for the Lions, it likely will be anything but for the Wallabies: with Joe Schmidt's men likely having some demons to bury for their 2023 World Cup loss - and not the least of which, also getting a maiden win in the Steel City.
With the Fijians playing more games in Super Rugby - and the Wallaroos also tightening ties, making matches against Fiji an annual part of their calendar with the recently unveiled Vuvale Bowl - Raiwalui believes annual fixtures like the forthcoming match in Newcastle are a no-brainer.
"I think, with the proximity of the countries, it's a no-brainer," Raiwalui admitted.
"They've got a good relationship - Australian rugby has always supported Fiji rugby with the Drua. Taking the games out to places like Newcastle is huge.
"Fijians, they're everywhere. The opportunity to go out and watch their players play against the best teams in the world like Australia is a huge opportunity, and I think it is something that we can explore for later in the future.
"The more rugby that all the islands get, all those nations get, the better they're going to be. So it's a huge opportunity."
Raiwalui, meanwhile, has been deep in preparations for the First Nations Pasifika XV clash against the Lions - and also sees it as a huge opportunity for more regular fixtures as part of these tours.
Fiji is the only side from the Pacific to have ever faced the Lions - and, incredibly, are the only national side the Lions have never defeated: their sole 1977 fixture seeing the Fijians win 25-21.
The FNP side will be based on First Nations and Pasifika players playing their rugby within Australia, meaning no current Fijian, Samoan or Tongan stars outside of Australia will take the field.
However, Raiwalui hopes that the FNP XV format could become a future regular fixture - and open the door to play other touring teams.
"It's a great privilege and a responsibility to be the first to be involved in this team," Raiwalui admitted.
"[There's] a proud history of First Nations and Pacific Island pathways within Australia rugby and it's a great opportunity to give some younger guys the opportunity to play at their highest level that might not have played against a team like the Lions.
"We've selected staff and players to represent who we are and the culture that we want to build and make it a success both on and off the field and hopefully a long-term fixture."
