Former Fiji and Nadroga rugby coaching director Franck Boivert has applied for Flying Fijians head coach position.
The vacancy arose following the departure of Simon Raiwalui, who has taken on a new role as World Rugby high performance general manager.
Confirming his application to this newspaper, Boivert expressed his enthusiasm for the role.
“Yes, I did apply for the Flying Fijians coach position,” Boivert confirmed.
The Frenchman, with over two decades of residency in Fiji, has made significant contributions to the country’s rugby community.
His notable achievements include instilling the Fijian flair in Nadroga rugby, leading them to claim prestigious silverware such as the Skipper Cup and Farebrother Trophy multiple times.
Boivert is keen to bring his successful coaching style to the Flying Fijians, promising to replicate the Fijian open style of play that brought success to Nadroga.
“I promise you I will do for Fiji what I did for Nadroga when I was in charge of practice,” Boivert said.
The veteran coach enjoys considerable support from the local rugby community, including former sports editor and renowned regional sports commentator Satish Narain.
Narain said it was important for people applying for the job to understand the Fijian rugby culture and agreed Boivert (Franck) was the man for the job.
“He is one guy who always involves himself in coaching in any level, look at how Cuvu College came up in Deans, that was all the hard work put in by Franck’s knowledge,” Narain said.
“When Nadroga was at the top of their game he was one guy that was in there as their technical adviser, he worked with Fiji rugby.
“People applying for the job they need to understand our rugby culture, our players if they play open rugby, they can shock New Zealand and South Africa sometimes when we get coaches from overseas they try and bring rugby that is played now in overseas teams and try and mix that with Fiji strength.
“We mostly get beaten by set piece play.
“Franck will be a worthy try, he’s been in Fiji for 20 years plus he knows the culture the strength of our rugby, he knows our players he’s well versed with what Fijians can do on the field and how you tune them off the field to make sure they deliver on the field,” Narain explained.
Sailosi Naiteqe Sr, former Naitasiri head coach and Fiji 7s rugby selector, echoed similar sentiments and support Boivert’s application for his extensive 26-year involvement in Fijian rugby at various levels.
“FRU should give Boivert the position of Flying Fijians head coach. Boivert was involved in rugby in Fiji as coach, development officer, HPU manager, technical adviser from club, provincial and national level,” Naiteqe said.
“He loves our open rugby which suits us Fijians which Nadroga uses until today.”
Esala Nauga, former Nadroga rugby head coach and Boivert’s former colleague during Nadroga’s successful campaigns, said Boivert was the right person for the job.
Nauga said Boivert’s open style of game, a philosophy that aligned with the winning results expected from Fijian rugby.
“Franck has worked with us Fijians and he always emphasise playing the Fijian open style of game and this is what he was emphasising during the recent RWC for us to go back to our Fijian flair,” Nauga said.
“He always says for Fijians to play our own style of rugby then only we will produce winning results we expect so I think Boivert is the right person to be given the job.”
As support from influential figures in Fijian rugby continues to mount, Boivert’s application stands as a testament to his deep understanding of Fijian rugby culture and his commitment to fostering a style of play that match the nation’s strengths.
