The Flying Fijians is set to host Scotland and play against the Wallabies during this July international Test window.
Flying Fijians centre Inia Tabuavou (with ball) on the attack against USA in the Pacific Nations Cup semi-final at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, Japan on September 14, 2024. Photo: AFP
The Fiji Water Flying Fijians will play more 20 Test matches before they head to the 2027 Rugby World Cup (RWC) in Australia.
Speaking to SUNsports, Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne that this would help prepare them for the RWC as he begins to build up his squad, which would benefit them in the next two years.
The 2027 RWC will be from October 1 to November 13.
“I think it’s important that we start putting a little bit of focus into the World Cup and have a look at the players that are going to be there in 2027 and start to build our list,” Byrne told SUNSports.
“We’ve got potentially 10 Test matches next year and 10 the following year; we’ve only got really 20 games to go before we enter into 2027. In a normal club, that’s one season, so we got one season of footy to get ourselves right.
“Our focus starts to shift towards the depth required for the World Cup especially having a successful one.”
Byrne added that his current squad is doing well and has depths across the board in a lot of positions.
He indicated having young players in the forwards including young 19-year-old lock Setareki Turagacoke was crucial in the long run. The former Lelean Memorial School student was impressive scoring a try in his debut against Spain in November last year. Other young players include Kitione Salawa, Vuate Karawalevu and Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula.
“In a way we had a little bit of weakness before in the 10 position, in the flyhalf – we’ve got some depths there and probably three to four players that played there over the last 12 to 18 months,” Byrne said.
“We’ve good depths in our outside backs, our midfields– we’re starting to build some depths there as well.
“I think we got lot of depths in our forward and bring in young Seta who is a young lock bringing in more depths and we’ve got seven or eight props at the moment that’s been in and out of the side.
“From the depth perspective we’re okay and probably helping some of the players there to develop a little bit better and find that they’re a little bit close to whatever footy we want to play.”
The Flying Fijians is set to host Scotland and play against the Wallabies during this July international Test window.
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