No word on top job

Coaches discuss player rotation

THE Fiji Rugby Union continues to liaise with Global Elite Sports Agency in New Zealand, the recruitment company for the Flying Fijians coaching job.

FRU Board of Trustees chair Peter Mazey said they cannot give any official statement on the progress so far.

“We have engaged the Global Elite Sports Agency who will shortly report back to the Trustees. When an appointment is made and agreement is reached and contract signed with the successful candidate only then can we make a media release,” he said.

According to FRU interim administration Simione Valenitabua, 11 applications were received with six expected to be shortlisted.

The application for the Flying Fijians top job closed on January 12. Senirusi Seruvakula occupies the acting role until the FRU makes an official announcement.

SEVERAL factors come into play regarding the involvement of certain Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players in the Fiji Airways Fiji men’s 7s Olympic Games campaign.

Fiji Rugby Union Board chair Peter Mazey had earlier indicated that the Fiji 7s coach Ben Gollings has expressed his interest in roping Iosefo Masi to join the team for the Paris Olympics.

Fijian Drua head of commercial and marketing Shane Hussein revealed that discussions are only done between the coaches of the two respective teams.

“The coaches talk to each other, Ben Gollings talks to our coaching staff and of course our CEO.

“There are number of factors that go into that decision of availability for the Olympics. It’s got to do with the coaches talking to each other, with the coaches talking to the players and the players making themselves available. Those are the things we do not interfere with as it involves individual discussions that need to proceed before we can make any announcement.

“It’s quite close, if you look at the Super Rugby season and the duration or preparation of the Olympics, it’s very close to the end of the Super Rugby season, a break when we progress to the finals. There are Flying Fijians Tests in that window as well, so we are talking about a complicated mix of Drua coaches, 7s and the Flying Fijians coaching staff having to all work this out.”

Fiji 7s head coach Gollings had stated during a press conference last month, that he plans to get five overseas players to join his squad for the Olympic Games in Paris, France later this year.