SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs)
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Cotter Appointed Fiji Airways Flying Fijians Head Coach
Fiji Rugby Union are thrilled to announce the appointment of New Zealander Vern Cotter as the incoming Fiji Airways Flying Fijians Head Coach. The two-time Super Rugby and Top 14 Championship winner will take the reins of the Flying Fijians program upon finalization of his commitments with Montpellier.Vern Cotter commenced his coaching career two decades ago with the Bay of Plenty (NZ) where with Joe Schmidt as his Assistant, they won the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in the Province’s history and made the play-offs. He was then approached by the Crusaders to coach the forwards and in his first year they made the final and he then was involved in them winning a Super Rugby title in 2005 and 2006 before he headed to Clermont in France. At Clermont he turned the team around and they made multiple finals and won the Top 14 for the first time on their history in the 2009/10 season. Cotter also presided over Clermont winning 77 games at home which was and still is a world record within the professional game. He was then approached by Scotland to be their Head Coach and was the most successful Head Coach of Scotland in the professional area with a (53%) win record which included wins against France, Argentina, Italy, Ireland and Wales. Cotter was the Head Coach for Scotland at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Hardwired for success and known for his straight shooting and technical-tactical approach, Chairman Kean says the new Head Coach is expected to ignite a step up in performance for the Flying Fijians as they progress towards the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.Commander Kean said Mr. Cotter is expected to arrive in Fiji following the completion of his contract with Montpellier, in time to coach the Flying Fijians for first test scheduled against Tonga in Tonga on July 4, 2020. “We hope he can get to us earlier than then, but this depends on the play-offs in France, and other matters.” In his role, Mr. Cotter will also focus on coach development and succession planning through upskilling local provincial Coaches and, taking local Coaches such as Senirusi Seruvakula, Koli Sewabu, Kele Leawere, Inoke Male and Ifereimi Rawaqa under his mentorship to prepare them as potential successors for the Flying Fijians Coaching position. -
@Machpants I can't find anywhere for how long he has been appointed. I assumed it was up to and including the 2023 RWC, but that may be wrong.
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@Stargazer said in SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs):
@Machpants I can't find anywhere for how long he has been appointed. I assumed it was up to and including the 2023 RWC, but that may be wrong.
I doubt Fiji would play hardball with the NZRU if there isn't an outclause already. It wouldn't be shocking to see Schmidt pop up there in an informal capacity either now would it? Good opportunity for both to get fresh and recharge but still keep their toe in the water.
It will be curious because despite the contract being for two years if Foster isn't renewed before the 2021 TRC (like Henry in 09 and Hansen in 13 were) the public pressure will likely be on Foster game to game.
The wild card is Robinson as CEO, but it's difficult to see Foster getting the automatic extension if the ABs perform as they have the last three seasons if Gatland (post Lions duties and on NZRU retainer) and Scmidt/Cotter potentially are waiting in the wings. If Foster is forced to reapply, like with Smith and Mitchell he best not even bother.
It's been over 17 years since there was public discontent over the AB coach that wasn't contained to Christchurch; when previously it was the norm. It will be interesting to see what it looks like in 2020!
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@rotated said in SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs):
@Stargazer said in SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs):
@Machpants I can't find anywhere for how long he has been appointed. I assumed it was up to and including the 2023 RWC, but that may be wrong.
I doubt Fiji would play hardball with the NZRU if there isn't an outclause already. It wouldn't be shocking to see Schmidt pop up there in an informal capacity either now would it? Good opportunity for both to get fresh and recharge but still keep their toe in the water.
It will be curious because despite the contract being for two years if Foster isn't renewed before the 2021 TRC (like Henry in 09 and Hansen in 13 were) the public pressure will likely be on Foster game to game.
The wild card is Robinson as CEO, but it's difficult to see Foster getting the automatic extension if the ABs perform as they have the last three seasons if Gatland (post Lions duties and on NZRU retainer) and Scmidt/Cotter potentially are waiting in the wings. If Foster is forced to reapply, like with Smith and Mitchell he best not even bother.
It's been over 17 years since there was public discontent over the AB coach that wasn't contained to Christchurch; when previously it was the norm. It will be interesting to see what it looks like in 2020!
WTF? Do you call coaching Fiji "get fresh and recharge" as if it's not a genuine head coaching role? It's not a holiday job!
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@Stargazer said in SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs):
@rotated said in SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs):
@Stargazer said in SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs):
@Machpants I can't find anywhere for how long he has been appointed. I assumed it was up to and including the 2023 RWC, but that may be wrong.
I doubt Fiji would play hardball with the NZRU if there isn't an outclause already. It wouldn't be shocking to see Schmidt pop up there in an informal capacity either now would it? Good opportunity for both to get fresh and recharge but still keep their toe in the water.
It will be curious because despite the contract being for two years if Foster isn't renewed before the 2021 TRC (like Henry in 09 and Hansen in 13 were) the public pressure will likely be on Foster game to game.
The wild card is Robinson as CEO, but it's difficult to see Foster getting the automatic extension if the ABs perform as they have the last three seasons if Gatland (post Lions duties and on NZRU retainer) and Scmidt/Cotter potentially are waiting in the wings. If Foster is forced to reapply, like with Smith and Mitchell he best not even bother.
It's been over 17 years since there was public discontent over the AB coach that wasn't contained to Christchurch; when previously it was the norm. It will be interesting to see what it looks like in 2020!
WTF? Do you call coaching Fiji "get fresh and recharge" as if it's not a genuine head coaching role? It's not a holiday job!
it's in Fiji! of course it is! It's all midday Fiji Gold's and snorkeling.
Plus Fiji only play like 7 times a year.
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@mariner4life said in SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs):
@Stargazer said in SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs):
@rotated said in SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs):
@Stargazer said in SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs):
@Machpants I can't find anywhere for how long he has been appointed. I assumed it was up to and including the 2023 RWC, but that may be wrong.
I doubt Fiji would play hardball with the NZRU if there isn't an outclause already. It wouldn't be shocking to see Schmidt pop up there in an informal capacity either now would it? Good opportunity for both to get fresh and recharge but still keep their toe in the water.
It will be curious because despite the contract being for two years if Foster isn't renewed before the 2021 TRC (like Henry in 09 and Hansen in 13 were) the public pressure will likely be on Foster game to game.
The wild card is Robinson as CEO, but it's difficult to see Foster getting the automatic extension if the ABs perform as they have the last three seasons if Gatland (post Lions duties and on NZRU retainer) and Scmidt/Cotter potentially are waiting in the wings. If Foster is forced to reapply, like with Smith and Mitchell he best not even bother.
It's been over 17 years since there was public discontent over the AB coach that wasn't contained to Christchurch; when previously it was the norm. It will be interesting to see what it looks like in 2020!
WTF? Do you call coaching Fiji "get fresh and recharge" as if it's not a genuine head coaching role? It's not a holiday job!
it's in Fiji! of course it is! It's all midday Fiji Gold's and snorkeling.
Plus Fiji only play like 7 times a year.
My point was more the second than the first.
Games played in the previous cycle:
2016: 5
2017: 8
2018: 6
2019: 11Montpellier would have played 26 games plus 6-9 European Cup games in his final season as coach before transitioning upstairs. Bit of a difference.
The job has traditionally been done from the SH, so if Cotter wanted to move back to NZ after a decade up north (and he has reportedly made at least three attempts to do so in recent years presumably for less coin) then that would make even more sense.
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@Stargazer he seems to think NZR have magic powers and unlimited funds.
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A potential Anzac XV that could re-surface after 30 years of being dormant
Very rarely do the Wallabies and All Blacks join forces on the rugby field, but that's exactly what is in the pipeline for later on this year.
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Not sure why anyone would want this.
“If we can’t get a full TRC (Rugby Championship) because of the travel restrictions then we are looking at other things that we could do, a Wallabies versus Anzac invitation team. Something to be creative.”
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You'd think it's either Wallabies v All Blacks, or ANZAC XV v another country than Australia and New Zealand.
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Snippets from the article below (which is behind the NZH paywall):
Vern Cotter is keen to lure several Super Rugby prospects and has assembled a quality New Zealand-led coaching team as he prepares to guide Fiji in a potentially daunting eight nations tournament later this year.The former Bay of Plenty head coach and Crusaders assistant has been impressed by several Fiji-eligible prospects including Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu, loose head prop Alex Hodgman, who played under 20s for New Zealand and Fiji, Chiefs No 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, Crusaders prop George Bower and wing Manasa Mataele, who is yet to return from injury. "There's guys that have shown really good form," Cotter told the Herald . "Alex Hodgman from the Blues has gone really well. Sowakula is also playing well. "There's some really good players we'd love to be able to access. The guy we'd love to get is Hoskins Sotutu, but I think Ian Foster has probably got his eye on him. If Fozzie doesn't pick him, he is welcome to come and play for Fiji."Since accepting the Fijian job in January, Cotter has recruited highly-regarded Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan, former Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson, Glen Jackson, who retired from refereeing last year, and Richie Gray to his coaching team. Gibson will lead Fiji's backline and attack; Ryan the forward pack, Jackson skills and kicking while Gray, who worked with the Springboks from 2014-16 and Cotter at Scotland and Montpellier, will oversee the contact area.Following the Pacific Nations Cup in October, Fiji are expected to compete alongside Japan against the traditional Six Nations powers from November 17 to December 5, with teams to be split into two pools of four. The eight-team tournament will this year replace the traditional northern-hosted November tours, with the Sanzaar nations instead hoping to stage the Rugby Championship in New Zealand during this window. Cotter is less enthused about the prospect of returning to Europe amid the pandemic, and having to quarantine for two weeks upon returning home, than he is the chance to assess where Fiji is at after their disappointing World Cup campaign last year. "The tournament is still not 100 per cent confirmed in November in Europe. It changes daily which is only natural because it's an uncertain landscape. We'll be delighted to be involved but we're waiting for the boxes to be ticked. "The concept itself is fascinating and would be really good for Fiji rugby considering there's probably 35 professional rugby players in Europe at the moment you could call on to play for Fiji.https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12352101
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@Stargazer said in SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs):
The former Bay of Plenty head coach and Crusaders assistant has been impressed by several Fiji-eligible prospects including Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu, loose head prop Alex Hodgman, who played under 20s for New Zealand and Fiji, Chiefs No 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, Crusaders prop George Bower and wing Manasa Mataele, who is yet to return from injury.Well at least he identified some that were born in Fiji.
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Report: Argentina to play in South American Championship ahead of Rugby Championship
Argentina are set to play in the South American Championship as preparation for their Rugby Championship campaign in New Zealand later this year.
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@Tim said in SH International Rugby (other than TRC, ABs):
Report: Argentina to play in South American Championship ahead of Rugby Championship
Argentina are set to play in the South American Championship as preparation for their Rugby Championship campaign in New Zealand later this year.
Good stuff. That should be excellent preparation for any friendlies down the line
