THE Fiji Rugby Union has received applications for the head coach’s position for the Fijiana Drua, with interest from local and overseas coaches.
The position was made vacant after Senirusi Seruvakula stepped down from the position earlier this month.
FRU acting chief executive officer Tevita Tuiloa said candidates for the position would be interviewed in the coming weeks.
“We are trying our best to speed up the process. Obviously that’s a national coaching appointment so the final decision will be made by the board,” Tuiloa said. “A panel will be sitting to discuss the shortlisting and the conduct of the interviews.
“We’ve had some very good applications come in both locally and abroad, as well as within the current team, so it’s going to be exciting to see what they bring to the table and what they can do to ensure that they defend the Super W competition, especially for our Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua.”
Seruvakula was put in charge of the Fijiana Drua after confirmation of the team’s participation in the Super W competition last year.
He led the side through an undefeated campaign, eventually ending the reign of the NSW Waraths side. He was assisted by Michael Legge (backline coach) and Inoke Male (forwards coach).
Legge and Male are the interim coaches until an announcement is made.
The Fijiana Drua faces the Brumbies in their opening match of the 2023 season at Prince Charles Park in Nadi on March 25.
The side will then host the Melbourne Rebels at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on April 1.
The team then travels to Sydney for the match against the NSW Waratahs at the Concord Oval on April 8.
On April 16, the side faces the Western Force at McGillivray Oval in Perth.
The final round sees the side travel to Brisbane to face the Queensland Reds on April 23.
