Ifereimi Rawaqa Takes Charge: Fijian Rugby Legend Named Interim Coach for Fijiana Drua Ahead of Pivotal 2025 Season

Former Flying Fijians lock and Fijian Drua skills and development coach, Ifereimi Rawaqa, has been named the interim head coach of the Fijiana Drua for the upcoming Super Rugby Women’s season.

The announcement was made by Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans, who expressed confidence in Rawaqa’s ability to lead the team during this pivotal time.

“We asked Ifereimi to step into the role as we prepare for a critical 2025 Super Rugby Women’s campaign. His reputation as one of the most respected coaches in Fiji and across the region made him a natural choice,” Evans said.

“His dedication to Fijian rugby and to our club is unmatched, and we believe he’ll steer the team well while we take our time with a thorough recruitment process for a permanent coach.”

Rawaqa himself welcomed the new role with a sense of pride and purpose. “It’s an honour to lead the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women in this important season, which forms the foundation of Fiji’s preparation for the 2025 Rugby World Cup,” he said.

Rawaqa highlighted his focus on working with the assistant coaches and the Fiji Rugby Union High Performance Unit (FRU HPU) to strengthen the team’s depth and maintain the high standards that have seen the Drua Women win two Super Rugby championships in three years.

“We’ll begin pre-season earlier this year to give us the best chance of success,” he added, showing his eagerness to build on the team’s proud history of consistent finals appearances and championship victories.