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.” |
China calls for strengthened flood control in Yangtze, Taihu Lake basinsGlobal tourism industry to get boost from Chinese travelers, says WTTC CEOArgentine president begins unusual visit to Spain, snubbing officials and courting the farPanthers reach Eastern Conference finals for second straight year, eliminating Bruins in 6 gamesChinese explorer crosses Taklamakan Desert on foot in 61 daysHouston weather: Power outages from storm raise risk of hot weatherChina launches new remote sensing satelliteChinese courts resolve more disputes through preNew Delhi heat wave: City records up to 47.1 degrees CelsiusChinese police probe over 40,000 IPR infringement cases in 2023