WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Drua head coach Mick Byrne has been hired to guide the Fijian national men’s rugby team as part of an agreement which could see Fiji play in the upcoming Nations Championship. In a statement Tuesday, Fiji Rugby said Byrne had been appointed after an “extensive and rigorous selection and negotiation process.” That included discussions between Fiji Rugby, Fiji government ministers and sports officials and World Rugby, represented by Nigel Cass and Simon Rawailui. “World Rugby clarified that (Fiji’s) performance and ranking at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France has put Fiji in strong position to be part of the Nations Championship competition commencing 2026 through to 2030,” Fiji Rugby said in a statement. “It would be detrimental to Fiji’s participation in the Nations Championship, in the 2024 Olympics, in Super Rugby Pacific, the 2027 Rugby World Cup and the rest of the World Sevens Series ... if the best qualified and proven coaches are not appointed to Fiji’s high-performance national teams.” |
Frank Nazar scores on first shot in NHL debut with Chicago BlackhawksGiants' Snell allows 7 runs over 4 innings against Rays in return to Tropicana FieldSuns skip playWinners of the 2024 Olivier Awards celebrating work on the London stageDunhuang elements shine at fashion weekKenyan students celebrate China's MidBeijing's Hong'en Temple opens to publicCelebrations of Miao New Year and Guzang Festival held in SW China's GuizhouSemiautomatic firearm ban passes Colorado's House, heads to SenateStrong earthquake rattles Papua New Guinea, but there is no tsunami alert or reports of damage