Mick Byrne Photo: Photosport
The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has appointed Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne as the new Flying Fijians coach.
This was confirmed by the FRU in a statement released in Suva on Tuesday.
The Fiji union said Byrne was the best qualified for the position and had held assistant coaching roles with the All Blacks and the Wallabies previously.
Byrne and current Fiji Warriors coach Senirusi Seruvakula were the shortlisted names after a series of interviews.
World Rugby has promised more tier one games and funding for the FRU, as part of an agreement signed between them, the FRU and the Fijian government last year.
Byrne also had to secure an extended work visa before accepting the new position.
The FRU statement said Byrne's long-term work permit was granted by the Department for Immigration on Monday, April 15.
It said the new coach brings a wealth of international experience to the role, coaching at test match level with Scotland, Japan, the Wallabies and the All Blacks.
"Fiji Rugby is delighted to have a coach of Mick's calibre who was part of three Rugby World Cup winning teams," the statement said.
"Mick also brings a deep understanding and love for Fijian rugby proven by the progress and achievements of the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua."
The FRU said Byrne joins Fiji Rugby with the blessing of the Drua management, and will complete this Super Rugby Pacific season while overseeing the Flying Fijians' preparations.
The FRU said the acceptance and issuance of a long-term Fiji work permit was a prerequisite to the appointment.
World Rugby said the Flying Fijians' performance and ranking at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France has put Fiji in a strong position to be part of the planned Nations Championship competition.
"However, World Rugby emphasised that Fiji playing tier 1 nations on a regular basis - as opposed to playing tier 2 nations - will only be a reality, if the investment in Fiji Rugby's high performance by World Rugby is protected through the appointment of the best coaches to coach Fiji's national teams through a robust, fair, transparent, and independent process," the FRU said.
World Rugby contributed around 32 percent of the total income that the FRU received in 2023.
Drua start replacement search
Fijian Drua chief executive officer Mark Evans said they are delighted that Byrne has been appointed to the national team as head coach.
"He's done a terrific job here at the Drua, and we're sure that he will do the same for the Flying Fijians," Evans said.
"We are also very confident that he will be completely focused on the remainder of the [Super Rugby Pacific] season whilst he's still with us."
Evans said the Fijian Drua will undertake a process to appoint a replacement in the coming months.
