Ifereimi Rawaqa has been appointed as the interim head coach for the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women for the upcoming 2025 Super Rugby Women campaign. Rawaqa, who currently serves as the men’s skills and development coach, takes over from Mosese Rauluni, who recently resigned from the dual role of head coach for both the Fijian Drua women and Vodafone Fijiana XVs.
Mark Evans, the chief executive officer of Fijian Drua, expressed gratitude for Rawaqa’s willingness to step up during this critical period leading into the 2025 Super W’s campaign. He emphasized Rawaqa’s respected status within Fiji and the region, stating that the Drua women are in capable hands under his leadership.
Rawaqa acknowledged the honor of taking on this interim role, highlighting the significance of the upcoming season as a foundation for Fiji’s preparation for the 2025 Rugby World Cup. He plans to collaborate with the assistant coaches and the Fiji Rugby Union’s high-performance unit to enhance the depth of the squad. The Drua women have a strong history in Super W, having won the championship twice in three years and reaching three consecutive grand finals.
Rawaqa has been a vital part of the Drua coaching staff, overseeing recruitment and managing the development pathway for contracted players. He has also been involved in establishing the upcoming Drua Academy for schoolboys aged 17-18 and played a key role in selecting its inaugural cohort.
With 44 test matches as a Flying Fijian and experience in two Rugby World Cup campaigns, Rawaqa holds a World Rugby Level 3 coaching accreditation. His coaching journey began in 2013 with the Lautoka Rugby Under-20 team, later serving in various roles, including the Fiji Warriors’ forwards coach and head coach for the Fiji U20 team in 2023 during the Oceania competition and U20 World Rugby Championship in South Africa.
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