Suva Rugby Union has urged the Fiji Rugby Union to end the wait and appoint Senirusi Seruvakula as the permanent head coach of the FIJI Water Flying Fijians, saying the acting appointment made after Mick Byrne’s surprise exit last week should be made official to give the national team clarity ahead of a busy international calendar.
In a press statement released yesterday, Suva Rugby chairman Maritino Nemani argued Seruvakula has repeatedly served as an understudy to foreign coaches and on several occasions acted in the role, and it is time to stop treating “eligible locals” as mere stewards until an expatriate is hired. Nemani called on the FRU to provide Seruvakula with “the same resources and support offered to foreign coaches” and to back him with a team of technical advisers from Fiji and overseas.
Nemani cited historical examples of local-expert collaborations — Josateki Sovau and George Simpkin in 1987, and Ilivasi Tabua, Shannon Fraser and Greg Mumm in later campaigns — that produced the country’s previous Rugby World Cup quarter-final appearances. “In both cases, Fiji reached the quarter-finals and in 2023, Seruvakula was assistant coach to Simon Raiwalui when Fiji also reached the quarter-finals. Those are the three times in history that Fiji has reached the (Rugby) World Cup quarter-finals,” he said, stressing the benefit of combining local leadership with technical support.
Seruvakula, who has been placed in an acting capacity following Byrne’s departure, has been on the national radar for some time. He was assistant coach for the Flying Fijians’ successful 2023 World Cup campaign, has been short-listed for the head coach role on multiple occasions, and previously emerged as a frontrunner only to miss out. Suva Rugby’s public push comes amid mixed reaction from fans and commentators since Seruvakula’s temporary appointment: some welcome a local leader, while others have questioned the circumstances surrounding Byrne’s exit.
Media reports last month suggested internal factions at Rugby House were increasingly concerned about Byrne’s health and wellbeing and had discussed replacing him, with Seruvakula’s name raised in those conversations. The FRU has since released a statement saying Byrne and the union parted ways “in the best interest of the future of the Flying Fijians,” with the Nations Championship coming up in July — a competition now adding urgency to the coaching decision.
The timing of Suva Rugby’s demand is sharpened by on-field developments. Seruvakula remains actively involved in national coaching structures, currently leading the Fiji under-20 side, which on Saturday suffered a 39-48 defeat to Japan at the U20 Coffs Coast Festival of Rugby in Australia. Nemani argued that rather than being penalised for recent results, local coaches should be strengthened with sustained support to build long-term depth in Fiji’s coaching ranks.
The call from the country’s premier provincial union increases pressure on the FRU to clarify the Flying Fijians’ leadership as preparations accelerate for mid-year international fixtures. Suva Rugby’s statement frames the debate as one of development and equity — urging that if Fiji is to compete consistently at the highest level, locally developed coaches like Seruvakula must be given the resources and continuity afforded to expatriate appointees.
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