The Fijian Drua has announced the appointment of Chris Gibbes as their new Forwards Coach for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Men. Gibbes is recognized for his previous coaching stints with the Hurricanes, Wellington, and Waikato, and he will be responsible for training the Drua forwards ahead of the upcoming Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific seasons.
Gibbes brings a wealth of coaching experience, having served as the Senior Assistant Coach at the Hurricanes from 2019 to 2023 and as the Head Coach of the Maori All Blacks, where he notably led the team to a 32-17 victory over Ireland in 2018. He also coached Wellington in the NPC, achieving promotion and leading them to semifinals. His earlier coaching career includes a role with Waikato in 2008 and serving as the Forwards Coach for Japan during the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
As a player, Gibbes participated in 44 matches across various teams from 1994 to 2002. He expressed his excitement about joining the Drua, highlighting his personal ties to Fiji and his enthusiasm to contribute to the team’s success.
Gibbes stated, “Having the opportunity to join this Club is incredibly exciting, and I’m determined to add value to the strong foundation that has been built so far. The Drua have a very exciting playing roster, a quality backroom staff, and a highly motivated coaching team that I’m looking forward to being a part of. The connection to Fiji is important to me and my family. My grandmother was from Rotuma, and my father was born in Suva, so I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and thrilled to grow this connection. I can’t wait to get started.”
Fijian Drua Chief Executive Officer Mark Evans praised Gibbes’ impressive record and alignment with the team’s objectives, underscoring his potential influence on the young squad. Evans remarked, “Chris has a tremendous record in New Zealand as well as other rugby markets. He is the perfect mentor for our forwards as we push to make an even bigger impact in Super Rugby Pacific. Chris’ focus on instilling dominance in the pack complements our incoming Head Coach Glen Jackson’s plans well for the upcoming season. Additionally, he will be another coach at the Drua with previous Head Coach experience, which will be invaluable for our young playing group.”
Gibbes takes over from Greg Fleming, who has transitioned to the role of Defense Coach.