Ifereimi Rawaqa has been appointed as the interim head coach for the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women as they prepare for the 2025 Super Rugby Women season. Rawaqa, who serves as the skills and development coach for the Fijian Drua men, replaces Mosese Rauluni, who stepped down from his dual role as head coach of the Fijian Drua women and Vodafone Fijiana XVs after the WXV tournament in Dubai. The decision was made by the Drua and the Fiji Rugby Union.
Mark Evans, the CEO of Fijian Drua, expressed gratitude for Rawaqa’s willingness to take on this important role during a critical time for the team. He highlighted Rawaqa’s reputation as one of the most respected coaches in Fiji and emphasized the confidence in his ability to lead the team effectively.
Rawaqa expressed his honor in leading the team for the Super W season, underlining the significance of this season as it serves as a foundation for Fiji’s preparation for the 2025 Rugby World Cup. He outlined his initial focus on collaborating with the assistant coaches and the FRU high-performance unit to enhance the squad’s depth.
The Drua women’s team boasts a strong history in Super W, having won the championship twice in the past three years and reaching three consecutive grand finals. Rawaqa indicated plans to begin pre-season earlier this year and looked forward to working closely with players and staff.
As a key member of the Drua coaching crew, Rawaqa has been instrumental in player recruitment and managing the development pathway for contracted players. He has also been leading the high-performance program for the newly established Drua Academy for schoolboys aged 17 to 18 and played a significant role in the selection of its first cohort.
Rawaqa is recognized for his substantial contributions to Fijian rugby, having played 44 Tests for the Flying Fijians, participating in two Rugby World Cups, and being part of the winning team at the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens. With a World Rugby Level 3 coaching accreditation, his coaching career began in 2013 with the Lautoka Rugby Under-20 team, leading to various roles, including head coach of the Fiji U20 team in 2023, where they performed notably in international competitions.
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