Former coach Simon Raiwalui and the FIJI Water Flying Fijians received significant recognition at the 2023 Fiji Sports Awards held in Suva last night. Raiwalui was awarded Coach of the Year, while the Flying Fijians were honored as Team of the Year.
Raiwalui’s accomplishments included leading Fiji to victory in the Pacific Nations Cup, orchestrating an upset against England at Twickenham, and achieving a historic win over the Wallabies for the first time in 69 years during the World Cup in France last year. His efforts were instrumental in the Flying Fijians reaching the quarterfinals of the World Cup, a milestone they hadn’t achieved in 16 years.
Although Raiwalui was unable to attend the ceremony, the award was accepted on his behalf by Sale Sorovaki, the administrator of the Fiji Rugby Union. The Flying Fijians were celebrated for their remarkable performances in 2023, particularly their victories over England and the Wallabies.