Ifereimi Rawaqa, the skills and development coach for the Fijian Drua men’s team, has been appointed as the interim head coach for the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women as they prepare for the 2025 Super Rugby Women campaign. This decision follows the resignation of Mosese Rauluni, who held the dual role of head coach for both the Fijian Drua women and the Vodafone Fijiana XVs after the WXV competition in Dubai. The announcement 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 interim position. He emphasized Rawaqa’s esteemed status as one of Fiji’s most respected coaches and assured that the Drua women would be in capable hands under his leadership. He also mentioned that Rawaqa’s temporary appointment would allow for a meticulous recruitment process for a permanent head coach.
Rawaqa remarked that it was an honor to lead the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua women in the upcoming season, recognizing its significance as a critical year for the team in preparation for the 2025 Rugby World Cup. He outlined one of his initial goals as collaborating with the assistant coaches and the Fiji Rugby Union’s high-performance unit to strengthen the squad’s depth. Underlining the team’s strong history in the Super W, having won the championship twice in three years and reached three consecutive grand finals, Rawaqa expressed excitement about starting pre-season early and working closely with players and staff.
As a former player, Rawaqa boasts an impressive record, having played 44 Tests for the Flying Fijians and participated in two Rugby World Cup tournaments in 2003 and 2007, as well as being part of the victorious 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens team. With a World Rugby Level 3 coaching accreditation, Rawaqa began his coaching career in 2013 and has accumulated a wealth of experience, including roles as forwards coach for the Fiji Warriors and head coach for Fiji’s U20 team in recent competitions.
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