Six more players have been added to the Fijian Drua roster ahead of their debut Super Rugby campaign.
Kaliopasi Uluilakepa joins the Fijian Drua for their 2022 Super Rugby Pacific campaign. Photo: © www.Photosport.nz 2018
Four forwards and two back have been announced, including former Fijian and New Zealand age-group prop Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Olympic gold medallist Kitione Taliga, former NRC Drua centre Apisalome Vota, Fiji U20 lock Isoa Nasilasila, Nadroga flanker Rusiate Nasove and Sydney University second-rower Ratu Leone Rotuisolia.
Uluilakepa is a rising Northland NPC star and was part of the Hurricanes Super Rugby Aotearoa wider squad in 2020.
Interim CEO Brian Thorburn said his contribution will be a massive boost to Fiji Rugby.
"Kaliopasi is an outstanding addition to the Fijian Drua and we are delighted to welcome him back into our vuvale. He is already well known in Fiji as a schools shotput record holder, and has played alongside other Fijian Drua squad members for Marist Brothers High School team," he said.
"We are very proud to confirm that Kaliopasi has declared his eligibility for Fiji and the Flying Fijians. This is one of the key objectives of the Fijian Drua and a massive boost for our national side."
Kitione Taliga is the fourth gold medalist to join the team alongside Kalione Nasoko, Ratu Meli Derenalagi and Napolioni Bolaca.
Thorburn said experience is crucial to help lead the team.
Fiji's Kitione Taliga scores one of his two tries against Argentina at the Rio Olympics. Photo: AFP
"Kitione is a two-time HSBC World Rugby Sevens series winner with the Fijian 7s. He brings in experience from his time at Stade Français in the top tier of France's Top 14 competition. Fijian fans are well aware of his creativity on the park as a flyhalf, fullback or backline utility."
Suva's Apisalome Vota was part of the NRC Drua which won the competition in 2018 and was part of the Fijian Warriors and Latui teams.
Lock Isoa Nasilasila played four caps for the Fiji U20 side in 2019 before breaking his leg to miss the World Junior Championship. He was out of action for five months but made a strong return to claim a place in the 2020 Fijian Warriors team for the Pacific Rugby Championship (PRC).
Nadroga flanker Rusiate Nasove is expected to help bolster the forwards. He worked his way through the domestic 7s and provincial 15s pathways, and was a member of the 2019 NRC Drua and the Fijian 7s squad.
Lock Ratu Leone Rotuisolia was part of the Fiji U20 team in 2016, and has played junior and university rugby in Australia.
Thorburn said there was a strong focus on young stars coming through Fiji's domestic high-performance pathways, and it's something Fiji Rugby are proud of.
"Our aspiration is to reach the finals, the top eight of the competition, so we're very satisfied with the talent that [Fiji Rugby's General Manager of High Performance] Simon Raiwalui has identitified today and that we've signed."
"We're not going into this competition to make up the numbers. We're well and truly there to compete."
Fiji Rugby's General Manager of High Performance, Simon Raiwalui, said he understands the challenges of bringing a new team together, but he believes they've got a squad that can be competitive.
"We think we've got a really good and talented young squad mixed with experience and you'll see with the later announcements that in each sector we'll have an experiecned player that will be able to lead this group."
"We've only had a month to bring everything together, but we're not going into the competition not to compete."
The remaining players and coaching staff will be announced next week.