Super Rugby Pacific officials say they will use a road trip from hell for the Fijian Drua in New Zealand – which saw the team forced to get a late-night lift in a luggage truck – to improve their travel processes in the future.
In farcical scenes reminiscent of the 1987 film Trains, Planes and Automobiles, the Drua had to negotiate a drama-filled trip two weeks ago when the Fijian franchise travelled to play the Hurricanes in Napier, in round two of Super Rugby Pacific.
After landing in Auckland near midnight, players and team management arrived to find the bus booked by Super Rugby organisers to transport the team to a hotel was nowhere to be seen. Subsequent calls found the booking had been cancelled due to a mistake by the bus company, according to sources familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to speak freely.
Late at night and lacking options to get to a nearby hotel, the Drua squad piled into the back of a truck booked to transport the team’s luggage and equipment.
Fijian Drua players in the back of a luggage truck on their trip to New Zealand.
The travel issues didn’t stop there, however. The Drua shared a hotel in Napier with their hosts, the Hurricanes, but were told they could not get a late check-out on Saturday ahead of the 4pm game, due to the town also hosting a major triathlon that weekend. It left the Drua using alternate arrangements for several hours.
According to informed sources, however, the Drua later learned the Hurricanes did not have to check out at the same time and stayed at the hotel until just before the 4pm kickoff.
When warming up at McLean Park, Fiji players and management were then miffed to see family and friends, some elderly, had been given tickets for the game by the Hurricanes on a grass hill behind the posts. Super Rugby clubs provide 70 tickets for the visiting team under competition regulations.
The Hurricanes won the game 38-34 and Drua coach Glenn Jackson hinted at the preparation issues post-game.
“We knew right from the beginning it was going to be a pretty interesting trip,” Jackson said.
“I don’t think we got all the favours landing in Wellington. We didn’t have a bus ready, unfortunately, and then even when we got to the hotel in Napier, we didn’t have a room ready. So there were plenty of things that went against us.”
Fijian Drua management subsequently wrote to Super Rugby chief executive Jack Mesley to highlight the issues encountered, and SRP launched an investigation.
Fijian Drua players huddle before the round two Super Rugby Pacific match between Hurricanes and Fijian Drua at McLean Park.Credit: Getty Images
“Super Rugby Pacific management reviewed a number of logistical issues that arose during the Fijian Drua’s trip to Napier to face the Hurricanes in Round 2,” Mesley said via a statement.
“Several oversights and breakdowns in communication were identified which unfortunately created additional challenges for the Drua. Those issues have now been addressed with the clubs and an external transport provider.
“While it is disappointing to have these issues arise in our competition, it has given us the opportunity to assess and refine our team travel processes moving forward.”
Junior Ratuva of the Fijian Drua scores a try against the Hurricanes.Credit: Getty Images
Informed sources with knowledge of the matter said while many Drua players shrugged off the inconveniences, others at the Fijian franchise were fed up and questioned whether an Australian or New Zealand Super Rugby side would encounter the same problems.
Fijian Drua officials declined to comment on their trip but said in a statement the club was satisfied with the SRP review.
“The Drua have gone through the right channels in a respectful way and are now satisfied that issues have been acknowledged and learnt from,” Drua general manager Baden Stephenson said.
This masthead has also learned Super Rugby Pacific bosses also spoke to New Zealand broadcaster Sky Sports after Fijian Drua players in the same game were misidentified, or had their names mispronounced.
Meanwhile, the Waratahs have named Reds recruit Lawson Creighton to make his NSW debut after being named at no.10 to meet the Western Force in Sydney.
Tane Edmed has been shifted to the bench.
Lock Ben Grant has also won promotion to the starting side for Miles Amatosero, with Felix Kalapu and backrower Leafi Talataina also named to their Waratahs debuts on the bench. Jack Grant and Tom Lambert have also also been added to the reserves.
Wallabies lock Jeremy Williams has been named to return from injury for the Force.
