FRU Hires Specialists for Vodafone Flying Fijians Program

The Fiji Rugby Union has confirmed the appointment of two World Class Strength and Conditioning coaches to the Vodafone Flying Fijians program, adding experience and expertise as the team continues its journey to Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan. The FRU CEO highlighted that FRU was grateful to be able to engage the specialist coaches and that the engagement of Damian Marsh and John Pryor to the coaching panel of the Flying Fijian and to our HPU Department presents great opportunities for the Flying Fijian players, our Elite programmes, domestic rugby (primary, secondary, clubs, provincial) and Fiji Rugby in general.

The FRU and the Fiji Rugby family welcome the two officials into the Fiji Rugby Family and looks forward to their specialised contribution towards the enhancement of the strength and conditioning field in Fiji which will lead we are confident will lead to enhanced high performance through the rugby structures in Fiji. Both officials bring vast expertise and experience in the field.

Damian Marsh will join the FRU High Performance Unit as Head of Athletic Performance. Marsh is one of the leading Strength and Conditioning Coaches in Australia with over 20 years of experience in the sport, health and fitness industry. He has worked with professional sporting teams for 17 years including the ACT Brumbies and most recently Queensland Reds Super Rugby Teams; the latter of which he was Athletic Performance Director. He has also physically prepared teams in three Super Rugby Championships (Brumbies 2001, 2004; Reds 2011). Internationally Marsh has carried out Strength and Conditioning duties with the Australian U21 (2002-2004) and Australia ‘A’ Rugby Teams (2003-2007).

He is regarded highly within the Strength and Conditioning profession for his knowledge and experience in training and preparation of elite athletes.

Marsh recently resigned as Head of Athletic Performance for the Queensland Reds in order to take on the role with Fiji Rugby.

Marsh stated “I have always admired the passion displayed by the Vodafone Flying Fijians team and the support they get from the Fijian people. It is a great opportunity to join John McKee’s coaching staff and I’m excited to play a role in developing the team’s rugby specific physical qualities.”

Marsh’s role will cover all FRU High Performance Teams, and have a positive influence on all levels of Fijian Rugby.

Damien Marsh

John Pryor takes up an appointment as the Vodafone Flying Fijians Head Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Pryor is an internationally recognised strength and conditioning expert, with a lengthy record of extracting the best from players and teams that he has worked with. The innovative strength and conditioning coach has demonstrated time and again that superior training methods are critical in achieving success at the elite levels of international sports competition.

Pryor was the Head of Athletic Performance for Japan Rugby Union for 5 years and played an integral part of that team’s surprising run at the 2015 World Cup, where they defeated powerhouse South Africa, with many observers recognising that the team’s fitness program was at the heart of their triumphant showing. Pryor has over 20 years of experience working with High Performance Sports programs, and for the past decade he has been working at the highest levels of rugby, working with the Australian and Japanese Test teams, as well as Super Rugby and Japanese Club squads. Pryor currently consults for the ACT Brumbies and Suntory in Japan.

Pryor commented “I was head of performance for Japan for 4 years before the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Preparing for the PNC was part of that job. Fiji was the team that always gave me and the coaching staff nightmares. But I also very much enjoyed the Fijian style.”

John Pryor

The Fiji Rugby Union is pleased to be able to get on board these specialists and see many positives, not just for the Vodafone Flying Fijians but Fiji Rugby overall. The FRU General Manager Rugby, Mr Geoff Webster was instrumental in engagement of the two officials. CEO FRU also wish to thank World for their assistance in the engagement of Damien and John.

“The addition of Damian and John will hugely benefit Fiji Rugby’s High Performance program and is a bit of a coup for us. They are, quite simply, World Class exponents in the S & C, an area where Fiji has historically lagged the best in the world. Their influence can only help the Vodafone Flying Fijians and Coach John McKee as they target Japan 2019.

Whilst there will be a strong focus on our World Cup qualification and preparation, we expect that the expertise both of the guys bring will flow down to all National Teams, including 7’s, and positively influence all of our Domestic pathways.”

Marsh and Pryor beef up a small but high quality Athletic Performance team within the FRU High Performance program, with Naca Cawanibuka returning to the role of Head of on Island S & C, and William Koong as Head of Sports Medicine.

Note:

• Whilst both Damian and John are in camp with the Vodafone Flying Fijians this week in Suva, John Pryor had pre-existing speaking engagements in the USA through June/July and will commence in earnest from August