FIJIAN DRUA ANNOUNCE COACHING & MANAGEMENT STAFF

The Fijian Drua have today announced the coaching and management team for its inaugural Super Rugby Pacific campaign. The Club has made the following five appointments:

William Koong as Head Physiotherapist
Brad Harris as Assistant Coach
Glen Jackson as Assistant Coach
Peceli Derederenalagi as Team Manager
Nico Andrade as General Manager

The five join Head Coach Mick Byrne and Head of Athletic Performance Nacani Cawanibuka to chart the course for the Fijian Drua’s maiden Super Rugby voyage.

Interim CEO Brian Thorburn welcomed the coaching and management team to the Fijian Drua vuvale. “It’s wonderful to be able to share with our fans in Fiji and around the world the support team behind the Fijian Drua. The experts and specialists we’re announcing today are no strangers to the Fiji Rugby vuvale, having been around various squads and teams in a number of capacities.

Thorburn continued: “William Koong has been a valuable part of Fiji Rugby. He is an expert in his field with enormous experience and multiple achievements, which of course include looking after two Olympic gold-medal winning 7s teams. William has Super Rugby experience too, as the Medical Liaison for the four Super Rugby matches held in Fiji between 2016 and 2019. He has contributed immensely to Fiji Rugby over the years, and we cannot think of anyone better to look after our talented playing group.”

“Brad Harris is also familiar to many players in our squad. He has been with our 7s programme as Assistant Coach, and was also a part of the Tokyo gold-medal winning squad. He brings with him international coaching experience as well, being a former forwards coach for Georgia’s national side. Brad’s has been heavily involved with Fiji Rugby’s 15s programme, in particular when the Drua won the NRC in 2018. His first hand knowledge and experience with our environment and many of our players will be extremely valuable for the squad.”

“Glen Jackson is a familiar name for fans, given his background as a popular Super Rugby player with the Chiefs, English Premiership player with Saracens, as well as a highly distinguished referee with New Zealand Rugby, where he officiated 88 Super Rugby matches and 32 Test matches. He is also involved with the Flying Fijians as an Assistant Coach on an ongoing basis and was part of the Coaching team for the mid-year tests against the All Blacks.”

“On the team management side, we warmly welcome Peceli Derederenalagi as Team Manager. Peceli has been with Fiji Rugby as Assistant Manager of Fijian National Teams. He was also the Team Manager for the NRC Drua in 2018 and 2019, where the side won the NRC one year and were finalists the next.”

“Rounding out the Management Team is General Manager Nico Andrade. Nico has been with Fiji Rugby as General Manager Franchise Teams. He was also with the NRC Drua in 2019, following on from his role as Head of Rugby Services for Queensland Rugby and the Queensland Reds. He was also Team Manager for the Queensland Country NRC side which won the competition in 2017.”

Fijian Drua Head Physiotherapist William Koong sees this as a growth opportunity for Fiji and for him personally: “Fiji Rugby’s entry into the Super Rugby programme has been long awaited. In my over 13 years of working for the union I can confidently say that we are more than ready now. It facilitates the next level in the Fijian Rugby Talent Pathway, it will provide more social and economic opportunities for young men and women, and is another growth opportunity in my career, as well as those I continue to mentor.”

Koong added: “The break into Super Rugby means more opportunities for Fijian players. The professional work environment aside, the primary benefit is one’s take-home packet. This will ultimately strengthen the livelihood and welfare of players and their beneficiaries.”


COACHING AND MANAGEMENT TEAM PROFILES

Name: William Koong
Position: Head Physiotherapist

Professional Record & Contributions

2005 – Fiji’s Melrose Cup winning team
(2005/2006) – Part of Fiji’s first ever World Sevens Series win
2007 – RWC with the Flying Fijians, who defied all odds to make their first RWC quarterfinal
2014 onwards: Multiple achievements with the Fijian 7s team, including:
Back to back victories as World Sevens Series champions (2014-2015/2015-2016)
Fiji’s first Olympic Gold medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016
2019: Pacific Games Gold Medal
Five consecutive Hong Kong 7s title wins
2021: Fiji’s second Olympic gold on Tokyo

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Name: Brad Harris
Position: Assistant Coach

Professional Record & Contributions

2016 – 2018: Forwards Coach – Georgia National Team
2017: Rugby Europe International Championships (Champions) with Georgia
2018 – 2019: Technical Advisor – NRC Drua (2018 Champions, 2019 Finalists)
2019: Technical Advisor – Fijian U20s –
Retained U20 World Championship status
2019 – Present: Assistant Coach – Fijian 7s Team
2020 Sydney Sevens (Gold Medallists)
2021 PacificAus Sports Oceania Rugby Sevens (Gold Medallists)
Tokyo 2020 Olympics (Gold Medallists)

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Name: Glen Jackson
Position: Assistant Coach

Professional Record & Contributions

1999 – 2004: Chiefs (Super Rugby) – 60 Caps Player
2004 – 2010: Saracens (English Premiership) – 159 Caps Player
2010 – 2020 New Zealand Rugby Union Referee, officiating
32 Test matches
88 Super Rugby matches
2020 – Present (Fiji Rugby Union)
Assistant Coach – Flying Fijians

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Name: Peceli Derederenalagi
Position: Team Manager

Professional Record & Contributions

2017 – Present (Fiji Rugby Union)
Team Manager – Fijian Drua (NRC)
2018 (Champions)
2019 (Finalists)
National Teams Assistant Manager

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Name: Nico Andrade
Position: General Manager

Professional Record & Contributions

2013 – 2014: Rugby Operations Manager – Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Club
2015 – 2019: Head of Rugby Services – Queensland Rugby Union / Queensland Reds
2017 – 2018: Team Manager – Queensland Country NRC
2017 NRC Champions
2018 NRC Grand Finalists
2019 – General Manager – Franchise Teams(Fiji Rugby Union)
2019 NRC (Finalists)