The Fiji Rugby Union has announced the appointments of the Telecom Fiji Warriors and Vodafone Fiji under 20 coaches and their assistants.
Senirusi Seruvakula has been appointed the Head Coach for the Telecom Fiji Warriors and is accredited with an IRB Level two in coaching and IRB Level one in Strength and Conditioning qualification. From 2008 to 2010 he was the assistant coach for the Naitasiri Rugby Union. In 2012 he became the head coach for the Vatukoula Rugby Union and still is to date.
Seruvakula will be assisted by Apakuki Vacala who has been the Lautoka Rugby Union coaching director since 2014. The former Suva Rugby Union coach started his coaching career in Australia for various school boy grades and also played for Fiji in 1989. He is accredited with an Australian Level two qualification.
Former Flying Fijian, Viliame Gadolo has been appointed the head coach for the Vodafone Fiji under 20 and will be assisted by former team mate Kele Leawere.
Gadolo has always been involved with the Fiji Rugby Union in national team selections for the age grade category and was also the assistant coach for the Fiji U20 to the Junior World Cup in South Africa and France. In 2014 he was appointed as one of FRU’s national rugby selectors and also achieved and IRB’s Educator License. The school teacher played 37 games and earned 20 test caps whilst playing for Fiji.
Leawere is the current head coach for the Nadroga Rugby Union under 20. The former Flying Fijian captain played 26 matches and represented Fiji at the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cup tournaments.
Vodafone Flying Fijians coach John McKee welcomed the appointments and stressed the importance of both teams.
“The Warriors and under 20 programs are both very important for Fiji to develop elite players and for the best players from Provincial Rugby to show that they have the ability to step up to compete at International level.”
“In the Rugby World Cup year the Warriors program is critical in our selection process for RWC and for identifying potential Flying Fijians for the future. The new format for the renamed World Rugby Pacific Challenge will be very competitive so players can test their skills, teamwork, game plans and fitness under pressure at the highest level.”
Mckee added that he will work closely with both teams to help plan their training programs to ensure that the best teams are selected to represent Fiji at their respective tournaments.
“We will be working hard in the Under 20s program to ensure that their preparation puts the squad in the best position to win the Junior World Trophy and thus qualify for the top group in the Junior World Cup for 2016. The U20s first matches will be as a guest team at the Australian U20 Championships in March playing matches against the Queensland & Australian Barbarians U20s.”
“I will work with the coaching staff of both teams to help plan their training programs and to ensure the Game Style and Core Skills learnt suit the “Fiji Way of Play’ from the Flying Fijians down and to help our most talented developing elite players’ progress through the elite pathway to the Flying Fijians.”
The team managers will be appointed next week.
PRESS RELEASE