It’s a breakthrough for local qualified rugby coaches (World Rugby Level 3) as they will soon get the opportunity to work with Tier One teams.

This was revealed to SUNsports on Sunday by Fiji Rugby Union interim Trustees chairman Peter Mazey.

He said more coaches are expected to be engaged in the programme in the coming months.

“These local coaches will get the opportunity to work with tier one rugby teams in the world,” he said.

Mazey made the comment after Fiji women’s rugby sevens coach, Saiasi Fuli, had indicated his intention to resign and focus on coaching fifteens rugby.

Fuli coached Suva Rugby to win the Skipper Cup and Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy. He was the assistant Fijian Drua when they won the Australia National Rugby Championship in 2018. This was before he was assigned to coach the Fiji women’s rugby sevens team that won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Fuli coached the current Fiji women’s sevens team that performed poorly at the Paris Olympics.

“One thing we are due in rugby is that to bring out the order for national coaches. That is to allow them (local coaches) to go and understudy with tier-one nations,” Mazey said.

He indicated they have agreements with some of the rugby teams in the world like Australia, New Zealand and England.

“Now we have come to an agreement with France, where some of our coaches can go as understudy.

“They being with them for a few months enable them to learn new tricks,” Mazey said.

“In life, we always learn, you never get born with a skill. We are hoping that this is a chance for local coaches to learn and later take up the reigns as national coaches.”

Feedback: waisean@fijisun.com.fj