The Fijian Drua's Tuidraki Samusamuvodre dives over the tryline in Lautoka. 28 February 2026 Photo: Fijian Drua/ Paula Tuvou
The Fijian Drua came from behind twice and surged ahead to score a famous 25-20 win over the Hurricanes in their round three Super Rugby Pacific game in Lautoka on Saturday.
It was their first victory after three games, having lost earlier to both Moana Pasifika and the Waratahs in rounds one and two.
Rain had drenched Churchill Park earlier in the day causing wet and slippery conditions.
This affected the flow of the game for both teams throughout the 80 minutes with the Hurricanes falling short in the end.
Both teams' game plans changed over the course of the match, with kicking coming to the fore.
First half
While the hosts had taken the lead with an Isaiah Washington Ravula penalty in the seventh minute, the Hurricanes responded with winger Fehi Fineanganofo minutes later before Peter Lakai dotted down in a maul, as the visitors extended their lead.
The Cane were up 10-3 until Motikai Murray finished off a good Drua attack under the posts, with Ravula adding the extra two points to tie up the game.
But Billy Proctor pushed the visitors ahead again with his try giving them a 17-13 lead at halftime.
Second half
An intercept by centre Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, when the second half started, saw the home side change gear.
But not before Barett pushed the Hurricanes to a 20-13 lead with a long-range penalty.
Fullback Ilaisa Droasese had sent the ball high and deep into the Hurricanes' half and as the visitors looked like they were ready to counter Samusamuvodre sliced his way in between two players to claim the intercept and race home untouched to score.
Ravula's conversion saw the two teams levelled again at 20-all.
Then a shift in attack, after some good forward movement from the Drua, saw Ravula throw a long pass out to replacement prop Peni Ravai, who, despite having two tacklers on him, still managed to send the ball out wide to flanker Etonia Waqa.
Waqa raced for the corner in the 67th minute to claim his try and hand the Drua the advantage, which they held onto until the final whistle.
Hurricanes captain and All Black Jordie Barett conceded defeat to the Drua and noted the tough conditions.
"Toughest thing for obvious reasons was holding the ball," he said after the game.
"It was extremely hard to hold on to the ball."
But he did not blame the conditions for the result.
"Drua were very disciplined and they did not allow us to make progress," Barrett said.
"We are disappointed we did not take the opportunities later in the game, we had multiple opportunities but did not capitalize."
Winning Drua captain Frank Lomani thanked the fans, and congratulated his players, saying the team worked together on the field.
"That's a really great effort from the team. We spoke about execution the whole week and that is what it looks like when we turned up," Lomani said.
"Weather was not on our side but hats off to the boys for the win today."
Lomani also said the replacement players lifted the momentum of the game and contributed to the good win.
"The 6-2 bench worked out," he said about them naming six forwards and two backline players on their bench for the game.
"Hats off to the boys that came out in the second half," Lomani said.
"We also thank the crowd for their support, for being there for the team."
