Fijiana Coach Yet to be Named

Seruvakula is still employed by FRU. The Fijiana coach will be announced next week, says FRU chairman

Wait for the announcement early next week; you will know who the head coach for Fijiana Drua is.”

The Head Coach of the defending Super W champions, Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua will be named next week according to Fiji Rugby Union chairman Humphery Tawake.

Coach Senirusi Seruvakula whose contract expired after the World Cup had indicated his interest to continue coaching the women’s side following their return from World Cup in October. The Fijiana 15s team has moved u p five places in the World rankings from 21st to 16th after defeating South Africa 21-17 in this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup pool game.

The Fiji Rugby release on December 8 , listed the 42-member Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua extended squad but did not have the coach’s name on the list. “You follow-up what he said after the World Cup. Senirusi (Seruvakula) is still employed by FRU,” Tawake said yesterday when asked if there will be new Fijiana Drua coach.

“The Fijiana coach will be announced next week,” he added. When contacted yesterday, Seruvakula in a (viber) text message said: “Wait for the announcement early next week; you will know who the head coach for Fijiana Drua is.” Meanwhile in the press release FRU chief executive officer John O’Connor said players were to start their training in the respective Fiji Rugby High-Performance Centres (Suva, Sigatoka, and Nadi) on Monday and yesterday. “We are arranging for the girls to undergo medical and fitness tests later in the week,” O’Connor said.

Fifteen local players who were

part of the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua which won the Super W Championship in its inaugural season this year have been retained in the extended squad while nine new players have made the cut into the extended squad.

“The squad consists of local players who have been actively training during the off-season and those who were scouted during the women’s provincial competition this year.”

O’Connor added that they were also focussing on players involved in the local competitions and considering opportunities for overseas-based players in January (next month).

“It will be a challenging season for Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua as they will be defending the SuperW title with Australian clubs eyeing to break their unbeaten run.

“We believe that Fijiana Drua will have an exciting 2023 calendar.”

The 2023 Super W season kicks off on March 24. The Fijiana Drua play their first match against ACT Brumbies on March 25.