Cotter Players Choice Too ■ Nemani Nadolo likely to rejoin team, with Cotter as head coach
Nemani Nadolo is among Fijian players in France who will support Vern Cotter as the new head coach of the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians, it has been disclosed.
Journalist Mark Thompson reported from France that Nadolo was even willing to come out of retirement. Timoci Nagusa was another player who indicated he supported Kiwi Cotter. There were other players Thompson could not name. They play for Montpellier where Cotter is a rugby director.
Cotter’s name was confirmed by the Fiji Rugby Union board chairman Francis Kean, in a press conference at Rugby House yesterday.
Kean said the acquisition of a high profile coach like Cotter was an investment for Fiji Rugby.
Cotter, whose contract with Montpellier ends in June, is now holding talks with the club officials for an early release. There are also speculations that Nadolo could come out of retirement to play for the Flying Fijians again.
Kean said Cotter’s contract is for three years and would be reviewed in the second year.
FACT FILE
■ Crusaders forward coach when they won the Super Rugby title in 2005 and 2006;
■ Coached Clermont to win the Top 14 title in the 2009/10 season;
■ Scotland’s head coach from 2014 to 2017. They reached the Cup quarterfinals of the 2015 RWC where they lost to Australia 35-34;
■ Fiji Airways Fijian Drua head coach Senirusi Seruvakula, is going to be under Cotter’s tutelage;
■ To develop local provincial coaches like Koli Sewabu, Kele Leawere, Inoke Male and Ifereimi Rawaqa;
■ Top coaches like Newcastle (Director of Rugby) Deans Richard, Frank Azema, Oliver Magne, Seruvakula along with former Flying Fijians captain and Australia forwards coach Simon Raiwalui were shortlisted.