There is a significant disparity in fitness levels and game tempo between players in the Skipper Cup and those competing in the Super Rugby Pacific, according to Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne. In a recent interview, Byrne discussed why Naitasiri hooker Kavaia Tagivetaua was the sole locally-based player included in the Flying Fijians’ squad for the Pacific Nations Cup.
Byrne emphasized the need for a more professional approach, stating, “At this early stage, we got a full professional rugby setup like getting up in the morning, training, and going to work (rugby).” He highlighted the importance of having Skipper Cup teams elevate their standards to align with the desired fitness levels.
Byrne expressed eagerness to collaborate with Skipper Cup coaches to close the gap between the two competitions. He mentioned receiving valuable scientific feedback from players in the Skipper Cup regarding their performance metrics, noting the presence of promising talents that could be integrated into the Fijian Warriors program.
In addition, Byrne shared his hopes that some of these skilled players from the Skipper Cup could potentially join the Drua franchise. He stated, “These players might push themselves into our team through the Warriors.”
Regarding the squad’s depth, Byrne pointed out the selection of France-based Adrea Cocagi, who plays second-five eighth for Castres in the Top 14, to strengthen that position. “Cocagi is a good strong running player in the midfield,” Byrne said, adding that he looks forward to his contribution in the upcoming campaign. Cocagi has previously participated in two Test matches for the Flying Fijians.
Byrne also noted that hooker Zuriel Togiatama was not selected due to family obligations in Auckland, New Zealand. He mentioned discussing the situation with Simione Kuruvoli, who has been consistently playing since the World Cup and deserves a break to spend time with his family.
The 30-member Flying Fijians squad is set to report to camp soon.