Ifereimi Rawaqa has been named the interim head coach for the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women as they prepare for the 2025 Super Rugby Women campaign. Rawaqa, currently the men’s skills and development coach, succeeds Mosese Rauluni, who recently stepped down after the WXV competition in Dubai. This appointment was made jointly by the Drua and Fiji Rugby Union.
Mark Evans, the CEO of Fijian Drua, expressed gratitude for Rawaqa stepping into this role during a critical time before the upcoming season. He highlighted Rawaqa’s respected status in Fiji and the rugby community, ensuring that the Drua women’s team is in capable hands.
Rawaqa stated that it is a privilege to lead the team as they gear up for the Super W season, which is vital for preparing Fiji’s women for the 2025 Rugby World Cup. He emphasized his intent to collaborate with the assistant coaches and the high performance unit to enhance the squad’s depth.
The Fijian Drua women have had a strong history in the Super W, having won the championship twice in three years and reaching three consecutive grand finals. Rawaqa plans to initiate pre-season training earlier this year and is eager to work closely with the players and staff.
Having been a significant part of the Drua coaching staff, Rawaqa oversees player development and recruitment. He recently took charge of the high performance setup for the new Drua Academy aimed at schoolboys aged 17-18 and played a key role in selecting the inaugural cohort of academy players.
Rawaqa is a seasoned Flying Fijian with 44 test caps, participating in the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups and being part of the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens champions. With a World Rugby Level 3 coaching accreditation, he began his coaching career in 2013 and has since worked in various coaching roles, most recently leading the Fiji U20 team at the Oceania competition and U20 World Rugby Championship in South Africa in 2023.
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