A COACH who helped France reach two Rugby World Cup semi-finals and the 2011 final has been brought in to strengthen the FIJI Water Flying Fijians’ defence as Fiji begins a longer-term push towards next year’s World Cup.
British coach David Ellis has been appointed interim Defence Coach by the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) and is already in camp working with the players and national coaching staff.
Ellis served as France’s Assistant Coach for Defence from 2000 to 2011, helping Les Bleus reach the 2003 and 2007 World Cup semi-finals and the 2011 final, where they lost 7-8 to New Zealand.
France also won multiple Six Nations titles, including Grand Slams, during his tenure.
His immediate task is to strengthen Fiji’s defensive system, with FRU stating that his “immediate focus” will be “strengthening the team’s defensive systems and working with the wider coaching group”.
But the appointment is understood to form part of a broader strategy, with the Pacific Nations Cup providing Ellis’ first test before the Flying Fijians turn their attention to the Nations Championship later this year and, ultimately, the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Ellis brings more than 25 years of coaching experience, including more than 1000 professional club matches and over 200 Test matches.
His international resume extends beyond France. He worked as a coaching consultant with the New Zealand All Blacks during their 3-0 British & Irish Lions series victory in 2005 and has held defence coaching roles with Tonga and Romania.
More recently, Ellis worked with Romania during its 2023 Rugby World Cup qualification campaign and helped the side secure bronze in the Rugby Europe Championship.
At club level, he has coached in England and France with Gloucester, Castres Olympique, CA Brive, London Irish and Lyon, helping Lyon to Pro D2 championship success in 2014 and 2016.
He has also served as a World Rugby Coach Development Mentor.
For Fiji, the Pacific Nations Cup is only the starting point.
The immediate goal is to build a more organised and resilient defence, but the bigger objective is to establish a defensive system capable of carrying the Flying Fijians through the Nations Championship and into the 2027 RWC.
