Chris Gibbes, the former head coach of the Maori All Blacks, has been appointed as the new Forwards Coach for Swire Shipping Fijian Drua. Gibbes, who has a rich coaching background including stints with the Hurricanes, Wellington, and Waikato, will be responsible for training the Drua forwards for the upcoming Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific seasons.
Most recently, Gibbes served as the Senior Assistant Coach for the Hurricanes from 2019 to 2023 and led the Maori All Blacks to a significant 32-17 victory over Ireland in 2018. As head coach of Wellington in New Zealand’s NPC, he successfully guided the team back into the premiership division in 2017 and led them to the semifinals the following season.
Previously, he also held the position of Head Coach for Waikato in 2008 and was the Forwards Coach for Japan during the 2007 Rugby World Cup. In his playing career, Gibbes was a tough second rower, competing in 44 games for Hawkes Bay, Waikato, Thames Valley, and NZ Colts between 1994 and 2002.
Upon his appointment, Gibbes expressed his excitement, stating, “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 and a highly motivated coaching team that I’m looking forward to being a part of.”
He added that his connection to Fiji is significant, noting his family ties, with his grandmother hailing from Rotuma and his father born in Suva. Gibbes stated, “I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and thrilled to grow this connection. I can’t wait to get started.”
Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans praised Gibbes, saying, “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.” Evans emphasized that Gibbes’ ability to instill dominance in the pack aligns well with the plans of the incoming Head Coach Glen Jackson for the new season.
Gibbes replaces Greg Fleming as the Forwards Coach at the Drua, as Fleming transitions to take on the role of Defence Coach with the club.