Rugby Pass
Ardie Savea Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The long-awaited inclusion of the Pacific Islands in southern hemisphere franchise rugby is nearly upon us.
Moana Pasifika, representative of Samoa and Tonga, and the Fijian Drua will be included in a new professional competition featuring all 10 of the New Zealand and Australian Super Rugby clubs in 2022, and fanfare surrounding their addition is building.
Being granted conditional licences to play in next year’s tournament means both teams can begin the process of recruiting a playing and coaching staff to become competitive forces against New Zealand’s and Australia’s top sides.
Much has been made about who will make up the playing roster at each franchise, with reports emerging that the Fijian Drua already have Olympic sevens hopefuls, Fijian internationals and foreign stars with Fijian heritage lining up to play for the Suva-based team.
Alastair Grant/AP
Scotland s Kiwi wing Sean Maitland (L) battles for the ball with England s Jonny May in the Scots first Six Nations victory at Twickenham since 1983.
Kilted Kiwi Sean Maitland has been showered with praise for his role in Scotland s historic Six Nations upset of England in a personal redemption story for the veteran wing. The 32-year-old helped set up Scotland s try to Duhan van der Merwe in a 11-6 victory over England, the Scots first at Twickenham for 38 years. Various media outlets were hailing the former Crusaders flyer as a potent presence in a mature showing against an English side captained by his Saracens clubmate Owen Farrell.