Chris Gibbes, a former assistant coach with the Hurricanes, has officially joined the Fijian Drua as their new forwards coach for the upcoming seasons of Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific. Gibbes brings extensive experience from coaching roles at the Hurricanes, Wellington, and Waikato, as well as international coaching experience with the Maori All Blacks, leading them to a significant 32-17 win against Ireland in 2018.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Gibbes said, “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.”
Gibbes also highlighted his personal connection to Fiji, noting that his grandmother was from Rotuma and his father was born in Suva, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and eagerness to strengthen this connection. He previously served as head coach of Wellington in New Zealand’s NPC, where he successfully led the team to promotion to the premiership division in 2017, followed by a semi-final appearance the following season.
Mark Evans, the chief executive of Fijian Drua, praised Gibbes’ impressive track record in New Zealand and other rugby markets, emphasizing his role as a mentor for the forwards as the team looks to enhance their impact in Super Rugby Pacific. He added that Gibbes’ head coaching experience will be invaluable for the younger players in the squad.
In his playing career, Gibbes was a formidable second-rower, participating in 44 matches for Hawkes Bay, Waikato, Thames Valley, and NZ Colts from 1994 to 2002.