Fiji Rugby announces an outstanding set of technical coaches for the Flying Fijians
Fiji Rugby is pleased to announce its technical coaches for the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians Autumn Nations Cup this November in Europe.
The support team for the Flying Fijians 2020 tour is as follows:
| Daryl Gibson {NZ} |
Coached Glasgow, Crusaders, NZ Maori, NSW Waratahs, Samoa |
| Jason Ryan {NZ} | Coached Canterbury, Crusaders, NZ U20’s, NZ Black Ferns |
| Glen Jackson {NZ} |
9 years International referee |
| Richard Gray {SCOTLAND} |
Coached Boarders, Scotland, South Africa |
Fiji Rugby Chief Executive Officer Mr. John O’Connor has welcomed the four coaches and says he and his team look forward to working with them in the coming months.
“We have a very high-profile coaching team together with head coach Vern Cotter and I’m confident the Flying Fijians will put on an impressive show in their first ever Autumn Nations Cup outing,” O’Connor said.
Flying Fijians Coach Mr. Vern Cotter said, “I have been in regular contact with my coaching group for almost two months.”
He added all these coaches come with a lot of international experience and are experts in their respective technical areas.
Cotter said “Glen Jackson is good at handling skills and can sensitize and also give players a clear understanding of what referees see and how they act.
“This will help us a lot because if we can cut down the discipline and the penalties against us, it will make us less vulnerable,” Cotter said.
He added that Daryl Gibson has international experience as a player and head coach.
“He has the maturity to help with the back line and we have Jason Ryan who has won three titles with Crusaders and brings all the standards in High Performance probably from the best franchise,” Cotter mentioned.
Cotter also added that Richard Gray’s input will also be of high quality since they have worked together in Scotland.
He explained, “Gray is someone who I have worked with in Scotland and in Montpellier and specializes in rug-contact.”
Meanwhile, the format for the Autumn Nations Cup will be two pools of four – Group A will include England, Ireland, Wales and Georgia with Group B comprising of France, Scotland, Italy and Fiji.
The Flying Fijians will kick off their campaign the second week of the
tournament in a blockbuster against fierce rivals France on Sunday 15th November, two years after they scored their thrilling victory at Stade France in 2018 and a match sure to delight fans around the world.
Fiji will then meet Italy on the 21st before heading to Murray field to play Scotland in the final round on the 28th of November.
The Autumn Nations Cup will conclude with a special final round of matches.
Based on the pool rankings coming into the final weekend, each team will face off in a cross over final against their equivalent placing, in the opposite pool.
Cotter is due to announce his squad in the coming weeks with the Flying Fijians tentatively planned to assemble in France around the 25th of October.