Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne sees his role as more of a facilitator style.

Byrne expressed this during the Maul or Nothing podcast. He highlighted that after the success of last year’s Rugby World Cup, he would not stray away from what has been working for the team but intends to build on it and make it better.

“I’m not going to stamp my authority or my way in the group like what some other coaches do,” Byrne said.

The 66-year-old coach said he has to know the players and decide what is the best thing for them?

“What is going to suit this group of players? So doing skillset training, enables me to see what kind of skills they have and build their game from there. What they are capable of doing and then challenge them to be a little better.

“Great players like these challenges as it motivates them to do something in areas they are struggling in. They always keep asking questions to become better.”

Byrne said as a facilitator, he is there to bring the best out of our players.

“This is because the Fijians enjoy the opportunity not to be downtrodden or pushed to through a hole or to be curtailed from their spirit.”

He pointed out the recent tour to England where they played the Barbarians outside the July Test window had been a challenge in getting the players’ release from their respective clubs.

“It was all new to me,” Byrne remarked.

“I’ve coached in Australia and New Zealand for 17 years and it has never been an issue. The Giteau Law in Australia only involves two or three players but they have someone managing it.

“I’ve got to get used to it,” he added.

Byrne said from now he has to find the right way and would start to build relationship with the clubs.

He is expected to soon name the Flying Fijians squad for the Pacific Nations Cup where they host Samoa on August 23 before travelling to Nukua’lofa to play Tonga on September 6.

Drua players for NPC 

Meanwhile, three Fijian Drua players have been confirmed to play in the New Zealand National Provincial Championship. They are forwards Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta playing for Tasman Mako, Haereiti Hetet for Bay of Plenty and Isaia Armstrong-Ravula for Manawatu Turbos. The NPC starts on August 9.

The players will return to join the Drua for next year’s Super Rugby Pacific competition.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj