Ifereimi Rawaqa 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, who currently serves as the Men’s Skills and Development Coach for Fijian Drua, takes over from Mosese Rauluni, who recently stepped down from his role after the WXV competition in Dubai.
The decision was announced by the Fijian Drua and the Fiji Rugby Union. Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans expressed gratitude for Rawaqa’s acceptance of the position, noting his esteemed reputation as a coach in Fiji and the Pacific region. Evans emphasized that Rawaqa’s interim leadership will provide stability as they seek a permanent head coach.
Rawaqa stated that he is honored to lead the Drua Women, highlighting the significance of the upcoming season as Fiji prepares for the 2025 Rugby World Cup. He plans to collaborate closely with the assistant coaches and the Fiji Rugby Union High-Performance Unit to enhance the squad’s depth.
Under Rawaqa’s leadership, the Drua Women have a strong history, having won the Super Rugby Women’s championship twice in three years and reaching three consecutive grand finals. He mentioned the intention to begin pre-season training earlier this year and looks forward to working with the players and staff.
With a wealth of experience, Rawaqa has been instrumental in the Fijian Drua coaching team, managing player recruitment and developing the pathway for contracted players. He has also spearheaded the establishment of the forthcoming Drua Academy for schoolboys aged 17 to 18, where he participated in selecting its inaugural cohort.
A former player, Rawaqa had a notable career with the Flying Fijians, participating in 44 Tests and being part of two Rugby World Cup teams. He holds World Rugby Level 3 coaching qualifications and began his coaching career in 2013. His background includes roles with various teams, including the Fiji Warriors and the Fiji U20 team, where he recently led a successful campaign in the Oceania competition and U20 World Rugby Championship.
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