Former Wallabies assistant poised to take over as Fiji national coach
Mick Byrne, the former AFL premiership winner who has become a hugely successful rugby coach, will be promoted to head coach of Fiji, according to a report.
Byrne, who was an assistant with the All Blacks and then the Wallabies under Michael Cheika, is the current coach of Super Rugby pacific franchise Fijian Drua.
The New Zealand Herald said several sources had told them Byrne will “soon be be preparing to coach against Scott Robertson’s” All Blacks with the Kiwis facing Fiji in the US in July.
Byrne has helmed the Drua for the first three seasons of their entry into SRP and they’re currently seventh with three home wins and four away losses.
The Herald reports that once his promotion is confirmed, Byrne is expected to step away from leading the Drua at the end of this season.
Coach Mick Byrne of the Drua looks on ahead of the round five Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and Fijian Drua at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on March 25, 2023, in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
The Super Rugby final clashes with Fiji’s first Test this year – against the Barbarians at Twickenham on June 22.
Fiji then plays Georgia before travelling to San Diego to meet the All Blacks.
Byrne was reportedly up against Senirusi Seruvakula to succeed Simon Raiwalui, who stepped down after the World Cup quarterfinals to work for World Rugby.