Today Good Friday, we tip the Bulldogs to Rambo the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium at 4:05pm and the Dolphins to deedledoo the Storm at Suncorp Stadium at 8pm.

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Today we tip the Storm to nutella the NZ Warriors and the Knights to woowoo the Tigers.

Dolphins 30-12 Panthers, ragons 38-16 Gold Coast Titans and Broncos 16-26 Roosters. 

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Today we tip the Storm to nutella the NZ Warriors and the Knights to woowoo the Tigers.

Dolphins 30-12 Panthers, Dragons 38-16 Gold Coast Titans and Broncos 16-26 Roosters. 

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In Dunedin, the Highlanders withstood the Fijian Drua surge in the second half until the tide turned after halfback Seruvakula was binned for a deserved 31-20 win.

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Moana Pasifika in 2025 reminds many of the Fijian Drua in the past! 

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Jackson’s journey through the sport is a testament to his versatility and dedication, making him one of rugby’s most respected figures.

Early years as player in New Zealand

As a first five-eighth, Jackson was a pivotal playmaker throughout his career. Domestically, he represented Bay of Plenty and Waikato in the NPC and later made his mark with the Saracens in the UK’s Guinness Premiership. Jackson’s performances were instrumental in his selection for the Chiefs squad in the 1999 Super Rugby season. His time with the Chiefs culminated in a semi-final appearance against the Brumbies in 2004.

In addition to his Super Rugby exploits, Jackson was part of the Bay of Plenty Steamers team that won the coveted Ranfurly Shield in 2004. On the international stage, he donned the jersey of the Māori All Blacks, winning the 2004 Churchill Cup, and represented the Barbarians.

Jackson’s time with Saracens was particularly notable. Joining in 2004, he quickly became one of the Premiership’s standout players, earning the Professional Rugby Players’ Association Player of the Year award in 2007 after leading the league in points during the 2006–07 season.

His career with Saracens concluded in the 2009–10 Premiership final against Leicester Tigers, marking the end of an illustrious playing journey.

Moving into refereeing in 2010

Following his retirement as a player in 2010, Jackson took on a new challenge: refereeing. Fast-tracked by Lyndon Bray of New Zealand Rugby, he transitioned seamlessly into officiating, rising quickly through the ranks.

Within a year, he was refereeing at the provincial level in the ITM Cup and serving as an assistant referee in Super Rugby.

By the end of the 2011 season, Jackson had officiated his first Super Rugby match, presiding over the Hurricanes vs. Western Force game.

His officiating career reached international heights when he debuted as a Television Match Official for the 2011 Bledisloe Cup clash between New Zealand and Australia.

In 2015, he became the first New Zealander to both play and referee 100 first-class fixtures, achieving the milestone during the Argentina vs. South Africa match.

That same year, Jackson made his Six Nations debut, overseeing the Scotland-Wales encounter at Murrayfield.

Despite his achievements, Jackson’s refereeing career ended after he was not selected for the Rugby World Cup 2019.

Joining the Fiji national team in 2020

In September 2020, Jackson returned to the field in a new role, joining the Fiji national team as an assistant coach under Vern Cotter.

His experience as a player and referee has brought a unique perspective to his coaching style, helping to shape the development of the Fijian Drua and the national side.

Glen Jackson’s rugby journey from an accomplished player to a world-class referee and now a coach, illustrates his unwavering commitment to the game. His ability to adapt and excel in different roles is rare, making him a true renaissance man of rugby.

As he continues to contribute to the success of Fijian rugby, Jackson’s legacy only grows, inspiring future generations to embrace the game with the same passion and dedication.

Glen Jackson Shares His Views on the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua

Glen Jackson Shares His Views on the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua with our Editor Randall Kamea.

What excites you the most about taking on this position?

This is our fourth year here, and having seen how much hard work it took over the past three years, it’s exciting to build on that. We’ve got an incredible group of young men, and we’re tying in everything we’ve learned so far to keep building on the foundation Mick created. The goal is to push further and make it into the semis and finals.

You’ve had quite a unique journey from player to referee and now to Head Coach. How has your diverse background prepared you for leading the Drua?

Being a referee has definitely made me more thick-skinned, which is something you need as a Head Coach in any organization.

Fijian fans are incredibly passionate, and refereeing has prepared me to handle that pressure.

Playing alongside great Fijian players throughout my career also helped me understand how important rugby is here.

These three roles – player, referee, and coach, have kept me in the game for a long time, and it’s been rewarding to stay involved in such a beautiful place like Fiji.

How have you found the Fijian Drua culture?

I love the Drua culture. Having been with the national team for four years and the Drua for three, I’ve grown to appreciate the boys’ backgrounds and how much family means to them.

It’s quite similar to Māori culture in New Zealand. Recently, Naca and I went to Kadavu, and it was incredible to learn about the diverse cultures and heritage that bind people together here.

Fiji is a beautiful place with beautiful people, and it’s a privilege to be part of it.

What are some of the key areas you want to focus on with the team during the upcoming season, and why have away games been such a challenge for the Drua?

The past is the past—we’ve only been in this competition for three years.

I’m excited about our upcoming away games because the boys have learned so much over these years.

There shouldn’t be any added pressure to win away, but I genuinely believe we’ve got a great opportunity to secure some wins on the road.

Our Flying Fijians took 23 of our Drua players and excelled in winning the Pacific Nations Cup, which was all away from Fiji.

That’s shown us the value of preparation and taught a lot of the new boys how to travel, eat, sleep, and adjust to being in different countries.

A lot of the Drua players had never left their villages or country before this experience, but now they’re much better equipped. I think those lessons will help turn things around quickly.

The Drua are known for their exciting, unpredictable style of play. How do you balance flair with discipline and structure?

The Fijian flair is something we never want to lose. It’s what makes Fijian rugby so special and is what terrifies opponents.

That said, we’ve brought in two experienced coaches, Tim Sampson and Chris Gibbes, to ensure we also focus on structure and discipline.

We’ve had a good pre season so far with a focus on fitness and work rate. If we get those areas right, the systems will take care of themselves.

We’ve also used preseason tournaments, including 7s, to help the boys understand playing in tournaments as well as the intensity and competition needed to succeed.

It’s about getting the balance right, and so far, we’re on the right track.

Are there any young players or new signings who have particularly impressed you during preseason?

We’ve worked closely with our development players during the preseason since many of our regulars were with the Flying Fijians. A few young players have really stepped up under pressure, and it’s been exciting to see their progress.

What’s also encouraging is the growing pathway from schools to professional rugby.

The Deans tournament this year was outstanding, and we’re starting to see how important First XV rugby is in developing talent. After the disruption caused by COVID, it’s great to see this next generation finally getting their opportunities.

What message would you like to send to Drua fans ahead of the new season?

Just keep being the best fans in the competition! At the Super Rugby conference we attended, everyone talked about the electric atmosphere at Drua games. People from overseas aren’t just watching their own teams – they’re coming to or want to come to Fiji to experience the Drua spirit.

To our fans, I want to say thank you. Your passion inspires the players, and it’s such a privilege for them to play at home in front of you. For those who can’t be there in person, make sure to tune in. Be one with the Drua!

Rugby aside, what do you enjoy doing in your free time? Any hobbies or interests?

Rugby keeps me pretty busy, but I enjoy spending time at Drua Brew, our little coffee shop. It’s a nice way to relax—and spend some of my wages! I also love playing golf, and Denarau Golf Club is always a great spot.

For family time, we enjoy places like Seventh Heaven. Fiji offers so much to keep you happy and balanced.

see these qualities in the Board, it is my duty to harness all of the skills and strengths to build that winning ecosystem.

Interview by Randall Kamea

This article was originally published in print magazine:

Glen Jackson: A Rugby Renaissance Man, TEIVOVO Magazine Issue 71, pp16-18, Kamea R

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Meanwhile, in Fiji, the mighty Crusaders finally broke their egg in Fiji, winning their first ever Super Rugby game here, following two prior losses. After their stinging loss to Moana Pasifika last week, the Kiwis taught the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua a lesson in tight forward play, running out easy 31-14 winners despite the support of a packed out HFC Stadium for the Drua.

One has to question the unimaginative, boring and entirely repetitive one-off hit up tactics of the Drua with the ball in hand, which played right into the plans of the Crusaders to keep the game tight, with frequent stoppages and set pieces.

Only three times in the whole game, the Drua chanced their arm with varied attacks and they scored twice and almost scored a third try.

The Drua season now is pretty much over.

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One has to question the unimaginative, boring and entirely repetitive one-off hit up tactics of the Drua with the ball in hand, which played right into the plans of the Crusaders to keep the game tight, with frequent stoppages and set pieces.

Only three times in the whole game, the Drua chanced their arm with varied attacks and they scored twice and almost scored a third try.

The Drua season now is pretty much over.

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