Mick Byrne appointed head coach as Fiji targets Nations Championship
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Drua head coach Mick Byrne has been hired to guide the Fijian national men’s rugby team as part of an agreement which could see Fiji play in the upcoming Nations Championship.
In a statement Tuesday, Fiji Rugby said Byrne had been appointed after an “extensive and rigorous selection and negotiation process.” That included discussions between Fiji Rugby, Fiji government ministers and sports officials and World Rugby, represented by Nigel Cass and Simon Rawailui.
“World Rugby clarified that (Fiji’s) performance and ranking at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France has put Fiji in strong position to be part of the Nations Championship competition commencing 2026 through to 2030,” Fiji Rugby said in a statement.
“It would be detrimental to Fiji’s participation in the Nations Championship, in the 2024 Olympics, in Super Rugby Pacific, the 2027 Rugby World Cup and the rest of the World Sevens Series ... if the best qualified and proven coaches are not appointed to Fiji’s high-performance national teams.”
Related articles
Saudi Arabia is going to sponsor the WTA women's tennis rankings under a new partnership
NEW YORK (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s move into tennis will now include a multiyear deal to sponsor the WTA2024-05-21- A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off southwestern Japan late Wednesday the US Geological Survey has2024-05-21
Takeaways from AP's story on the BP oil spill medical settlement's shortcomings
When the BP Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in 2010 and spewed many millions of gallons of o2024-05-21How South Africa's former leader Zuma turned on his allies and became a surprise election foe
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa faces an unusual national election this year, its seventh vote sinc2024-05-21California congressman urges closer consultation with tribes on offshore wind
A congressman who represents California’s north coast has sent a letter to federal regulators asking2024-05-21Israeli soccer facing Palestinian calls for action by FIFA at annual congress
GENEVA (AP) — Calls for action against Israel in international soccer because of the conflict with H2024-05-21
atest comment