Drua coach plans to strengthen kicking game

FIJIAN Drua head coach Mick Byrne said he planned to strengthen the kicking game of the team when the full squad is finally assembled in November.

The Aussie, who had excelled in his playing days with Hawthorn Hawks, Sydney Swans and Melbourne Demons clubs in the Australian Rules Football over a 167-game career prior to his involvement with the sport of rugby union, said the Fijian Drua's kicking game would be an area of focus in improving the technical and tactical aspects of the game.

"The kicking game is going to add value to our running and passing game," he said.

"I think one of the key things is helping our players with their technical and tactical aspects of the game by utilising a kicking game that adds strength to the team's attacking game, which will create another dimension."

Byrne said adopting the kick as an attacking strategy would immensely aid in opening up space to hunt for vital points.

"We've got our run, we've got our sort of run in a pass, but once we add a kick to it we become three dimensional or a triple threat part of the game.

"It's two aspects of technically looking after our players and tactically making them aware of where and how we want to kick.

"It's something that I am looking forward to working with our coaching staff and developing as we prepare ourselves for our first season."

The Aussie, nicknamed 'The Kick,' has been contracted on a two-year term.

"I just can't wait to get on the training field with all of them as soon as we can in November."

Meanwhile, the revamped 12team Super Rugby Pacific competition would kick off on the weekend of February 18 and features five teams each from New Zealand and Australia including the Moana Pasifika outfit.