Paris Olympics silver medallist Ponipate Loganimasi has signed with the Fijian Drua for subsequent 12 months’s Tremendous Rugby Pacific season. Loganimasi showcased spectacular expertise through the 2024 HSBC SVNS Sequence, and the Drua at the moment are “grateful” to welcome him to their membership.
Loganimasi had reportedly impressed on the thirty seventh Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s in February earlier than being referred to as into the nationwide sevens squad. The 26-year-old was as much as the duty on the Sequence, and was later named in Group Fiji’s star-studded squad for the Olympic Video games.
Fiji have been the two-time defending Olympic males’s champions going into the sevens match, and so they backed up that standing with their improved type of play. They made the gold medal match however an Antoine Dupont masterclass noticed France stand in first on the Olympic podium.
Loganimasi’s breakout 12 months continued throughout World Rugby’s Pacific Nations Cup on the again of Fiji’s silver medal at Stade de France. Loganimasi debuted for the Flying Fijians within the Closing in opposition to Eddie Jones’ Japan, and the surface again didn’t disappoint.
Loganimasi got here on within the 56th minute as a substitute for left winger Ilaisa Droasse. With silverware on the road, Loganimasi’s sensational debut ensured the PNC title would go the best way of the Flying Fijians, with the speedster crossing for a well-worked double.
Now, a brand new alternative awaits with the previous Fiji sevens ace penning a cope with the Drua for the 2025 season. With the Fijians ending seventh on the ladder on the finish of this 12 months’s common season, there’s rather a lot to be enthusiastic about because the Drua proceed to construct.
“To start with I wish to thank the Lord for an additional alternative. I do know it’s not a small alternative, it’s a giant one. Plenty of children in Fiji, they’re dreaming of this,” Loganimasi stated in a video that was shared on the Fijian Drua’s social media channels.
“To be given an opportunity and a chance, I’m so blessed so I wish to thank the Almighty God and all my household at house and all my buddies on the market, so I wish to thank them for giving me one other likelihood, and the administration for trusting me.
“Can’t wait to be with the boys.
“Was simply telling jokes with (Iosefo) Masi, he was telling me, ‘What when you come and play with us within the Drua?’ I used to be like, ‘Man, I wish to.’ Then he was like, ‘Okay, we’ll see’.”
With former head coach Mick Byrne leaving the Drua to take up the identical function with the nationwide group, the Tremendous Rugby membership wanted to discover a new particular person for the function. There was no higher suitor for the place than Glen Jackson, who has made historical past by taking up the job.
Jackson is the primary particular person to referee, play and coach in Tremendous Rugby. The brand new Zealander was performed 60 matches for the Chiefs as a flyhalf over a five-year stint, and Jackson was additionally extensively thought to be one of many southern hemisphere’s main referees.
Beneath former coach Byrne, Jackson has served as an assistant coach of the Drua since 2022, however took up the brand new head teaching function in Could of this 12 months. After signing Loganimasi, Jackson spoke about how excited he’s for the upcoming season.
“I believe it means rather a lot for Fijian Drua,” Jackson stated.
“It simply exhibits the standard of gamers that we’re signing. I believe, clearly, Loganimasi’s debut at 15s with the nationwide group was unbelievable. We all know how good he’s on the sevens circuit and it simply exhibits the standard of the younger man to signal with our membership, we’re very grateful.
“I believe he’s gonna be an especially optimistic new recruit for our membership.”
