The Fijian Drua complete their 14-match Super Rugby programme against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Friday before the players begin to turn their attentions to the upcoming Nations Championship.
Fiji kick-off their campaign in the Welsh capital against Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium in what will be a ‘home’ game for them – as will their clashes with England in Liverpool the following weekend and Scotland at Murrayfield Stadium on 18 July.
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Acting head coach Senirusi Seruvakula has already named a formidable 50-strong extended squad to prepare for the new competition. That number will be trimmed to 32 two weeks before they come to play Wales.
The Drua were beaten in Perth by the Western Force last weekend and head coach Glen Jackson has urged his players to use their final outing to push for international selection. There are 21 players from the Drua, the only Fijian side in the Super Rugby Pacifica tournament.
With five wins from 13 games to date it has been a slight improvement on last year, although if they don’t win in Brisbane, they will once again finish 10th out of 11 sides.
“These guys need to put their hand up in preparation to perform at a high level. We must start better than we did against the Waratahs and the players are learning how to move on quickly from a defeat,” said Jackson.
As well as their 21 home-based players, the Fijians have 15 players from the Top 14 in their extended squad, including Bordeaux-Begles full back Salesi Rayasi, who picked up an Investec Champions Cup winners medal in Bilbao last weekend.
There are still two games to go in the regular Top 14 season before the top six enter the play offs. That means Rayasi could get caught up in two more matches if Bordeaux-Begles go all the way to the final, which takes place Saturday 27 June – a mere seven days before the Fiji v Wales match.
Also still in the running are Racing 92, who have five players in the 50-strong squad. There are also two players in the Provence team seeking to get promoted from ProD 2 to the Top 14. Both outside half Caleb Muntz and lock Albert Tuisue are teammates with Wales prop Tomas Francis.
Having beaten Brive in their quarter final clash last weekend they head to Colomiers for a tricky semi-final. Whoever wins that game will meet table-topping Vannes in the promotion final.
While there are currently no Fijian squad members from the BKT United Rugby Championship clubs, there are two Saracens props who will be seeking to push for a PREM Rugby play-off place over the next two weekends. Joining them will be their Welsh clubmate Rhys Carre.
Sarries currently lie in fifth place, three points behind Exeter Chiefs, who are seven points off third place Leicester Tigers. Bristol Bears are in sixth, two points down on Saracens.
Tigers have three Welsh players in their squad – Olly Cracknell, Tommy Reffel and Nicky Smith – the Chiefs have two – Dafydd Jenkins and Kane James – and the Bears have one – Louis Rees-Zammit.
FIJI Water Flying Fijians Extended Squad
Props: Eroni Mawi (Saracens), Atunaisa Sokobale (Castres Olympique), Peni Ravai (Drua), Livai Natave (Drua), Haereiti Hetet (Drua), Luke Tagi (Bayonne), Tim Hoyt (Worcester Warriors), Vilikesa Nairau (Saracens), Mesake Doge (Drua)
Hookers: Tevita Ikanivere (Honda Heat), Kavaia Tagivetaua (Toyota Jido Shokki), Zuriel Togiatama (Drua), Sam Matavesi (Camborne)
Locks: Isoa Nasilasila (Drua), Mesake Vocevoce (Drua), Albert Tuisue (Provence), Temo Mayanavanua (Drua), Tevita Ratuva (Clermont Auvergne), Joseva Tamani (Drua / Otago)
Flankers: Lekima Tagitagivalu (Racing 92), Etonia Waqa (Drua), Isoa Tuwai (Drua), Elia Canakaivata (Drua), Levani Botia (La Rochelle), Kitione Salawa (Drua)
No 8: Pita-Gus Sowakula (Clermont Auvergne), Peceli Yato (Perpignan), Nathan Hughes (Racing 92)
Scrum Halves: Frank Lomani (Drua), Simione Kuruvoli (Drua), Sam Wye (Counties Manukau), Philip Baselala (Drua)
Outside Halves: Caleb Muntz (Provence), Isaia Armstrong-Ravula (Drua / Manawatu), Kemu Valetini (Drua)
Outside Backs: Jiuta Wainiqolo (Lyon), Selestino Ravutaumada (Racing 92), Kalaveti Ravouvou (Bristol Bears), Vinaya Habosi (Racing 92)
Inside Backs: Josua Tuisova (Racing 92), Filimoni Botitu (Castres Olympique), Isikeli Rabitu (Drua), Virimi Vakatawa (Drua), Iosefo Masi (Lyon), Semi Radradra (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Seta Tamanivalu (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Sireli Maqala (Bayonne)
Full Backs: Salesi Rayasi (Bordeaux-Begles), Vuate Karawalevu (Castres Olympique)