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 Buildcorp Super Rugby Women campaign. Rawaqa takes over from Mosese Rauluni, who resigned after the recent WXV competition held in Dubai.
The Fijian Drua and Fiji Rugby Union announced the appointment, expressing confidence in Rawaqa’s abilities. Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans remarked on Rawaqa’s reputation as one of the most respected coaches in Fiji and commended his commitment to rugby. He stated that Rawaqa’s interim role would allow time for a thorough recruitment process for the permanent Head Coach position.
Rawaqa expressed his honor in taking the role, emphasizing the significance of the upcoming season as a foundational year for Fiji’s preparation for the 2025 Rugby World Cup. He noted the importance of working with assistant coaches and the High-Performance Unit to strengthen the squad’s depth.
The Drua Women have a notable history in the Super Rugby Women league, having won the championship twice in three years and reaching the grand finals consecutively. Rawaqa intends to commence pre-season training earlier this year and is excited about collaborating with the players and staff.
As a former Flying Fijians lock with 44 Tests, Rawaqa has participated in two Rugby World Cups and was a member of the winning 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens team. He holds World Rugby Level 3 coaching credentials and began his coaching career in 2013 with the Lautoka Rugby Under-20 team. After a stint in Australia as a Rugby Talent Identification and Development Officer, he returned to Fiji, contributing to various coaching roles, including that of the Fiji U20 team.
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