Mike Legge has been named head coach of the Fijian Drua Women, the club announced yesterday, signaling a continuation of the close ties between Fiji’s national women’s programme and the Drua franchise. Legge will formally take over the Drua Women’s top coaching role following the 2025 Super Rugby Women season, succeeding Ifereimi Rawaqa.
Fijian Drua chief executive Jeff Miller said the decision was driven by what Legge has achieved in a short period with the national side. “I have been very impressed with what Mike has achieved in a short period leading the Fijiana. I know he wants the Drua Women to play not only with passion for the country they represent, but also with true Fijian flair. As a club we are excited and grateful he and his coaching staff are now on board,” Miller said. Miller took over as Drua CEO late last year and has been active in reshaping the franchise’s coaching and performance structures.
Legge steps into the role with deep experience across Fiji Rugby Union programmes. He joined the FRU in 2019 and has worked closely with both the Fijiana XV and Drua Women since then. As an assistant coach he was part of the Drua Women’s coaching team that won the 2022 Super Rugby Women’s title, and he served on the Fijiana XV coaching staff through a Women’s Rugby World Cup cycle. Earlier this year Legge acted as interim head coach of the Vodafone Fijiana XV for Test matches and the Oceania series, overseeing attack and overall tactics.
Alongside Legge’s appointment, the Drua have finalised several key supporting roles to ensure continuity. Former international Kele Leawere has been reappointed as senior assistant coach and Tavaita Rokowati named assistant coach. Legge said retaining and working with coaches he already knows was important: “I’ve worked with coach Kele since I started in Fiji Rugby back in 2019 and with coach Tavaita. It’s important that I have a group around me that I trust and I know they have a passion for the women’s game.”
The club also confirmed Eleina McDonald, previously the team’s events and operations manager, has been promoted to team manager. Legge indicated he will bring in outside technical input as well, naming coach Richie Walker to provide additional technical support for the coming season.
The appointment formalises a path many in Fijian women’s rugby have anticipated after Legge’s recent stint leading the national side. For the Drua, the move underscores a strategy of aligning franchise and national development, using coaches familiar with local talent and the Fijian playing identity. Miller’s endorsement highlights the club’s desire to combine that identity with a performance-driven approach ahead of the 2026 season.
Legge’s elevation also leaves space for questions about how the transition from Rawaqa will be managed through the remainder of 2025 and how the Drua will assemble their playing group for the next Super Rugby Women campaign. With a coaching team largely drawn from the FRU ecosystem, the Drua have signalled they will prioritise continuity and home-grown pathways as they prepare for upcoming competitions.