Flanker expected to return soon
Abrasive Kitione Salawa Jr., a flanker for the Fijian Drua, is expected to return for the Super Rugby Pacific 2024 season.
The native of Namotomoto, Nadi, was playing exceptionally well for the Drua the previous season when, in the seventh round of the tournament, he suffered a left shoulder injury that required surgery in Australia.
Coach Mick Byrne of the Fijian Drua said, “Kiti (Salawa) is recovering from a shoulder injury and he is currently part of that process of getting ready and is tracking well.” In an interview with same publication from the previous year, Salawa expressed his confidence in fully recovering by March of this year.
“I’m still recovering, but by March of next year, I should be clear.” Salawa stated in December 2023, “I have faith I will recover and come back strong on the field next year.”
Byrne, in the meantime, expressed excitement about their seven home games that will be played in the competition later this year.
“We are eager to play at home, and we haven’t given much thought to anything other than our opening matchup versus the Blues thus far. “We are really looking forward to our first home game against the Crusaders in March, and as the year goes on, we will really start building to our home games,” Byrne stated.
On February 24, 2024, the Drua kick off the Super Rugby Pacific season in Auckland, New Zealand, against the Blues.