Fiji Rugby House Suva Photo: Alex Perrottet/RNZ
Two Fijian rugby coaches have called on the Fiji Rakavi Football Union (FRU) to clarify why they are supporting overseas coaches over local coaches for national team duties.
Sailosi Naiteqe Snr and Tomasi Cama Snr, both well-known coaches in Fiji, say they are disappointed that the FRU has continued to ignore local coaches.
The two are reacting to FRU's announcements of new coaches for the Fijiana women's team and the Fijiana Sevens team.
RNZ Pacific has contacted the FRU chairman John Sanday and the union's chief executive Rovereto Nayacalevu for comment.
Both had previously stated they would champion the development of local coaches and their involvement with national teams.
Last week, the union revealed that New Zealander Richard Walker will coach the Fijiana Sevens, while Ioan Cunningham is the new the Fijiana XV head coach.
Walker takes over from former Fiji Sevens rep and current Fijiana Sevens interim coach Timoci Volavola, while Cunningham fill the position left vacant by former coach Mosese Rauluni.
"This is unacceptable," Naiteqe said.
"I wonder what the FRU is thinking because they have continued to deny the local coaches and keep bringing in overseas coaches.
"What is happening here?" he asked.
Cama, a former national rep and Fiji Sevens team coach himself, said the FRU is working against local coaches.
"They said for all coaches to get their coaching accreditation done and our coaches joined in and started working so that they can get the accreditation," Cama said.
"They worked hard to get coaching roles and build on their experiences. Some of them have done so well and are beginning to show themselves on the international scenes.
"But they then get sidelined and the FRU brings in overseas coaches who come in and do what they want, and leave us, sometimes to start from scratch again."
Both Naiteqe and Cama said local coaches Volavola, and Fijiana Drua coach Ifereimi Rawaqa, should be given the opportunity to coach the national women's teams.
Volavola was assistant coach to Saiyasi Fuli and since taking over as interim coach late last year has lifted the Fijiana sevens team from 11th to 8th position after four World Sevens Series tournaments.
Rawaqa has started the 2025 season with a big win over the Waratahs in the Super W competition - the women's equivalent of the Super Rugby Pacific competition for teams in Australia and Fiji.
Naiteqe said the FRU had earlier sidelined former Drua and Flying Fijians assistant coach Senirusi Seruvakula and Fuli, moving them down to coach the Fiji Under-20s team.
"The Under-20s team is where you try out coaches who come through provincial level and you want to see them and test them," Naiteqe said.
"But the FRU did not consider Seruvakalua, who has the most winning record for the Drua and Warriors and along with Fuli, who both have had international coaching experiences and moved them to the under-20s."
Cama said it seems the FRU is not in the position to decide who gets to be Fiji's national team coaches, unlike Pacific neighbours Samoa and Tonga.
He questioned who is making the decisions - whether it is World Rugby or other forces outside of the FRU.
"That is the way it looks now to us, local coaches," he said.
"It seems the FRU is just rubber-stamping things."
FRU appointments
Meanwhile, in announcing the two new coaching appointments, Nayacalevu said the FRU was pleased to have the two on board.
Cunningham resigned as Wales women's coach late last year, after winning only four out of 11 Test matches.
He will lead Fijiana's campaign to the Women's Rugby World Cup, from August 22 to September 27 in England.
The Fijiana are in Pool B with Canada, Scotland and Wales.
"We are excited to welcome Ioan to the Fiji Rugby vuvale. His expertise and experience at the international level make him the ideal leader as we prepare for the Rugby World Cup," Nayacalevu said.
The FRU said Cunningham brings a strong understanding of rugby, a professional coaching background, and a clear focus on performance delivery.
It said the new coach has extensive experience in a High Performance environment and is known for his clear communication style that Fiji's RWC campaign program requires.
On the new Fijiana sevens coach, the FRU said Richard Walker is an experienced coach with over 15 years of success across various levels of the game.
He has held coaching roles with USA Rugby Women's 7s, Japan Women's 7s, and Auckland Storm.
Walker also has Olympic and World Cup experience, having coached the USA Women's 7s team through the Rio Olympic Games and the 7s World Cup in San Francisco.
Both coaches have taken up their new appointments with the FRU.
