FIJI Water Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne is excited about the future of Fijian rugby, especially with the team’s chances for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Byrne believes that the combination of players leaving for European clubs and the continued growth of the Drua will provide a strong foundation for the national team. Speaking candidly about the challenges, he stressed the importance of developing players’ physicality from a young age and the potential for growth in both depth and professionalism.
Byrne highlighted that as some of the Drua players depart for Europe, the team’s pool of talent will continue to grow, with several of the current players still in their prime for the 2031 World Cup.
“We’re going to have three or four players leaving the Drua this year for Europe, and they’ll be prime players for 2031,” said Byrne.
“These players will mature, grow, and become even better. The development we see now will set us up for a bright future.”
The French and English leagues have long been destinations for Fijian players, offering them both professional development and lucrative contracts. Byrne acknowledged that losing players to these clubs is an inevitability, much like New Zealand and Australia have seen in the past.
“The reality is, we can’t compete with the salaries and opportunities overseas,” said Byrne.
“But that’s not necessarily a negative for Fijian rugby. The challenge is ensuring that we are continuously developing our young players, so when the top players leave, there’s already a new group ready to step up.”
As players gain experience in Europe, Byrne is hopeful that some will return to the Flying Fijians later in their careers.
“Just like in New Zealand, where some players return after playing abroad, we could see some of our players coming back to finish their careers in Super Rugby or the Flying Fijians. It could be an exciting opportunity for both the team and the players to give back to Fiji when their playing days in Europe are nearing an end,” he added.
Byrne also believes that the exposure to different rugby environments overseas will be invaluable for the players and their families. Moving to Europe provides Fijian players the chance to experience new cultures while securing better financial stability.
