Former Flying Fijian and Crusaders winger Nemani Nadolo has voiced his disappointment over how players from the Fijian Drua men’s team were treated ahead of their match against the Hurricanes in Napier, New Zealand, two weeks ago.
A Facebook post has surfaced, showing Drua players traveling in the back of a truck along with their luggage on the way to their hotel.
Nadolo shared his frustration in a post, highlighting how differently other Super Rugby teams are treated when they visit Fiji. He pointed out that whenever Australian or New Zealand teams travel to Fiji, they are given VIP treatment — including police escorts and high-level hospitality. He questioned whether anyone could imagine an Australian or New Zealand team being subjected to similar treatment.
Adding to the frustration, Drua players were also denied a request for a late checkout at the hotel they were staying at — a hotel they shared with the Hurricanes. This left the Drua team with limited rest before their 4 p.m. match.
To make matters worse, it was later revealed that the Hurricanes were granted a late checkout, allowing them to rest comfortably before the game.