Final 12 months, the Fiijana Drua have been a fairytale.
It was a basic underdog sports activities story: an outsider is available in and towards all odds, fights their solution to the highest for final victory.
This 12 months their story is not so simple, nevertheless it’s equally inspiring.
They’ve staged essentially the most outstanding comeback in Tremendous W historical past whereas within the background handled a firestorm of criticism, political and monetary points.
With solely handful of final 12 months’s premiership gamers and new coach, doubters on social media have been vocal early on.
Regardless of the negativity, the Drua ladies began the 12 months robust, with a convincing win over the Melbourne Rebels however a much less convincing win over the Brumbies, each to dwelling crowds in Fiji.
Nonetheless, on return to Australia, the Fijians suffered their first ever defeat towards their premiership rivals the Waratahs with a stinging lack of 31- 5.
The Drua went on to lose their subsequent recreation to the Western Pressure, adopted by one other loss to the Reds.
This left the cynics with little question. Three losses in a row, there was no hope for this 12 months’s Fijiana Drua.
Fb, Fiji Rugby, March 25
Emori Naviti
“The ladies lack the required health degree an their efficiency was a disappointment. Coach really want to drag up u socks”Fb, Fiji Rugby, March 31
Ross Liga
“Fijiana workforce so sloppy in 1st recreation..not just like the workforce of 2022 … the place from recreation 1 … they captured the followers hearts”Fb, Fiji Rugby, April 8
Shwetha Sharma
“the one factor inoke male will deliver to the workforce is failure and losses … he’ll no match to the earlier coach”Fb, Fiji Rugby, April 16
Bentley Daula’asi
“This workforce is a laughing inventory! The place is the Reigning Premier workforce from final 12 months? Simply spoiled my day watching the sport on TV yesterday night!”
Nonetheless, what occurred subsequent is a present of workforce spirit worthy of a Disney screenplay.
Two weeks in the past, the Fijiana Drua have been within the headlines in Australia and Fiji however not for rugby.
After their third loss, it was revealed when the workforce performed the Reds, they relied on Brisbane’s Fijian group to feed them as a result of administration, Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) couldn’t pay the caterer.
In the identical week, the FRU’s former performing chief govt Sale Sorovaki confirmed greater than $21 million in income for the previous monetary 12 months.
Days after this was made public, Fiji’s Legal professional-Basic requested the complete FRU board to resign.
That is the local weather the Drua have been in after they flew to Sydney final weekend to rematch with the Waratahs for the semi-final.
The very workforce who had served the Pacific islanders their worst-ever loss three weeks earlier.
However then, one thing magical occurred.
From a 17- 0 shortfall, the Drua shocked the Waratahs charging again to win 20 -17, snatching the grand ultimate away from essentially the most dominate workforce within the competitors.
Tomorrow would be the first time a NSW or Sydney primarily based workforce hasn’t featured in an Australian ladies’s rugby union grand ultimate.
The Fijiana Drua have proven nice resilience to show the tide.
Nonetheless, to finish their new fairytale, the Drua should defend their title towards the Reds, crowning the Fijians champions for a second 12 months.
The Reds are at present 11 factors forward of the Drua on the Tremendous W ladder.
On Saturday, in North Queensland, the 2 premiership groups will meet in a double header with Tremendous Rugby Pacific Reds v Waratahs.
Kick off is at 4.45 AEST at Queensland Nation Financial institution Stadium, Townsville.
_Stephen_Barnes-Business_Alamy_Stock_Photo.jpg?disable=upscale&width=1200&height=630&fit=crop "How CISOs Can Communicate With Their Boards Effectively")
