Inia Tabuavou made his Super Rugby debut for the Fijian Drua in their match against the Hurricanes in Napier, describing the experience as “unreal.”
The 23-year-old from Lautoka quickly noticed the significant step up in both pace and skill compared to the rugby he had previously played. He admitted that the style of play was vastly different, especially with the speed of the game out wide, which required him to adjust rapidly.
Although playing in Super Rugby hadn’t always been a long-term goal for him, Tabuavou has no regrets about choosing to return to Fiji and joining the Drua squad. Initially, he had set his sights on making a name for himself with Racing 92 in France’s Top 14 competition. However, the chance to represent a Fijian team at home was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
For Tabuavou, getting to play alongside well-known Fijian players — stars he grew up watching on television — has been a surreal experience. Sharing the field with players like Peni Ravai, Frank Lomani, and Tevita has been particularly special for him, and he is excited about playing alongside them for the rest of the season.
Looking back at the match against the Hurricanes, Tabuavou highlighted the importance of discipline as one of the biggest lessons he took away from the game.
He was also blown away by the incredible support from Fijian fans, who filled the stadium with energy and passion, making the away fixture feel like a home game.
Tabuavou is eager to build on this first taste of Super Rugby, aiming to grow and develop further with his teammates as the season progresses.
The Fijian Drua’s next match in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition will be against the Waratahs, kicking off at 8:35 pm tomorrow. Fans can catch the action live on FBC Sports.