The Fijian Drua’s Auckland Ordeal: Questions Raised Over Unacceptable Treatment

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua’s recent visit to Auckland for their Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Hurricanes has sparked controversy, with reports emerging about their poor treatment upon arrival.

Former Flying Fijians and Waratahs winger Nemani Nadolo took to social media to express his frustration, questioning why the Drua players were left waiting for hours at the airport with no transport. With no bus available, the team was forced to pile into a luggage truck that lacked proper ventilation.

The issues didn’t stop there. Upon arrival at their hotel, the team was made to wait in the lobby for hours after being denied a late check-in by the hotel staff. Nadolo pointed out the stark contrast between this experience and how other Super Rugby teams are treated when they visit Fiji, where they are welcomed with police escorts and high-level hospitality. He believes these disruptions affected the team’s preparation and morale before they even took the field against the Hurricanes

A report by the Sydney Morning Herald revealed that Super Rugby Pacific officials acknowledged the mishap, admitting that the bus meant to transport the Drua had been mistakenly cancelled by the bus company. This forced the team to find alternative transportation late at night, ultimately leading them to take the luggage truck.

Further complications arose in Napier, where both the Drua and Hurricanes were accommodated at the same hotel. Due to a major triathlon taking place in the town, the Drua were informed that they could not receive a late check-out on game day, leaving them scrambling for alternate arrangements. However, sources later revealed that the Hurricanes were allowed to stay in their rooms until just before kick-off. This blatant discrepancy in treatment raises serious questions about fairness, as it suggests a clear bias against the Drua. Why were they denied the same courtesy extended to their opposition? The impact of such disruptions on player recovery and match preparation cannot be overstated.

Despite the off-field challenges, the Drua put up a strong fight but fell short in a 38-34 loss to the Hurricanes. Post-game, Drua coach Glen Jackson acknowledged that the team’s trip had been “interesting from the start” and hinted at the difficulties they faced upon arrival.

Super Rugby Pacific CEO acknowledged the mishaps, stating:

“Super Rugby Pacific management reviewed a number of logistical issues that arose during the Fijian Drua’s trip to Napier to face the Hurricanes in Round 2.

“Several oversights and breakdowns in communication were identified which unfortunately created additional challenges for the Drua.

“Those issues have since been addressed with the clubs and an external transport provider.

“While it is disappointing to have these issues arise in our competition, it has given us the opportunity to assess and refine our team travel processes moving forward.

“The Fijian Drua are an integral part of Super Rugby Pacific, with the team and its fans bringing so much energy and excitement to our competition, and we all look forward to watching the Drua face the Chiefs in Lautoka this weekend.”

While this statement acknowledges the issue, it does little to address the larger pattern of Fijian teams receiving subpar treatment compared to their counterparts.

Critics have said that these logistical failures are not isolated incidents but part of a systemic disregard for Fijian rugby teams. They argue that while Super Rugby Pacific and World Rugby express regret over such mishaps, their actions suggest an ongoing pattern of neglect.

The fact that Fijian teams are consistently the ones suffering from these “miscommunications” and “oversights” raises suspicions about whether these are genuine mistakes or deeper structural biases within the sport’s governing bodies.

This isn’t the first time Fijian teams have been at the mercy of logistical failures. The Fijiana 7s team suffered an even worse fate in December 2023 when they were left to sleep on benches outside Sydney Airport while en route to the Dubai 7s.

Fiji Rugby Union Board of Trustees chair Peter Mazey admitted that a miscommunication between World Rugby’s travel team and the FRU resulted in no accommodation being booked for the team. Apparently, no one involved in the planning process knew that Sydney Airport shuts down at 11 pm every night. Meanwhile, the men’s 7s team was safely tucked away at a nearby hotel.

The FRU has since apologised, and Mazey assured the public that “the incident will not happen again,” but the damage had already been done. The incident only came to light after images surfaced of the players sleeping in the terminal, an embarrassing testament to the lack of care given to Fijian teams.

These repeated instances of logistical failures—whether from Super Rugby Pacific, World Rugby, or the FRU—raise serious questions about the competence of those responsible for planning team travel. Why does this keep happening to Fijian teams? Why do these “miscommunications” and “oversights” always seem to disadvantage one group?

While official statements promise that “lessons have been learnt,” actions speak louder than words. Until Fijian teams receive the same level of logistical support and respect as their counterparts, these so-called “oversights” will continue to look like something far worse.