A RESHUFFLE in the ranks at Rugby House as the Fiji Rugby Union announced the selected appointments for the positions of the Fiji Airways Fijiana Sevens coach, the Fiji Airways Fijiana XV’s coach and the positions of Strength and Conditioning coaches in both codes.
FRU chief executive officer John O’Connor has highlighted that the appointments are vital as the FRU targets to do well in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in 2019.
“It is done with the view to qualify and retain our Gold medal for the Fiji men’s sevens and obtain a medal for the Fijiana sevens team at the 2020 Olympic Games,” O’Connor said.
“We also target to qualify for the World Rugby Women’s World Cup in 2021.”
New on the block and newly-appointed Strength and Conditioning coach for the Fiji men’s sevens team is Ian Gibbons.
Originally from Cardiff in Wales, Gibbons 40, brings a host of experience with him having served as strength and conditioning coach for the London-based Saracens Football Club and the Scorpions rugby league club also based in England.
More recently, Gibbons held the strength and conditioning coach with the Kenya Sevens team in 2017 before returning to the northern hemisphere.
Saiasi Fuli takes over the mantle of Fijiana Sevens head coach and will lead them through the remaining tournaments on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019.
Fuli, a former Flying Fijian and Fiji Sevens player, steps into the role after a successful 2018 season as assistant coach to Senirusi Seruvakula’s National Rugby Championship winning side the Fiji Airways Drua.
Eroni Sotutu takes over the position of Fijiana Sevens Strength and Conditioning coach joining FRU from High Performance Sport New Zealand.
Ro Alifereti Doviverata returns to the 15 man code as the new coach of the Fijiana XV.
Doviverata continues the talent development program and spearheads the campaign as the Fijiana XV work towards qualifications into the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
