Raibevu joins Drua development program

Promising fly-half Jone Raibevu has been drafted into the Fijian Drua Development Squad, marking another success story from the club’s grassroots talent pathway. The native of Kalabu, Naitasiri, earned his place after progressing through the Drua Foundation’s junior development system, having first been identified through its scouting program in 2024.

Raibevu's elevation reflects the continued impact of the Drua Foundation in identifying and nurturing young rugby talent across Fiji. He first gained national attention during the 2024 Secondary Schools Eastern Zone competition before being selected for the inaugural Drua Junior Development Programme later that year. Beyond rugby, Raibevu has also excelled in athletics, winning the 100-meter sprint at the Tailevu Zone Championships.

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I was really surprised when I got the call about the opportunity. I was also excited when the Drua committee told me that I’ll be joining the Drua development next season.

Expressing his excitement, Raibevu described the call-up as a major milestone. "I was really surprised when I got the call about the opportunity. I was also excited when the Drua committee told me that I’ll be joining the Drua development next season," he said.

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Jone’s signing is another great example of what can be achieved when the Fiji Rugby Union and the Drua invest in identifying and developing young Fijian talent from an early age.

Fijian Drua CEO Jeff Miller praised Raibevu's journey, emphasizing the young playmaker's strong skill set, game awareness, and athletic ability. "Jone’s signing is another great example of what can be achieved when the Fiji Rugby Union and the Drua invest in identifying and developing young Fijian talent from an early age," Miller stated. "He first came onto our radar through our scouting programme and has continued to impress at every stage of his journey, from the academy to now earning a place in our development squad."

Raibevu will now join the Drua high-performance environment, continuing his development as he aims for future senior honors.

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He first came onto our radar through our scouting programme and has continued to impress at every stage of his journey, from the academy to now earning a place in our development squad.