Senirusi Seruvakula has been appointed head coach of the team that will represent Fiji in Australia's National Rugby Championship.
He has spent the past three years as head coach of the Fiji Warriors, who successfully defended the Pacific Rugby Challenge earlier this year, beating Tonga A, Junior Japan and Samoa A.
Fiji Warriors celebrate winning the World Rugby Pacific Challenge. Photo: Kitione Rokomanu / Zooomfiji
The Fiji Rugby Union's (FRU) chief executive John O'Connor said that following extensive interviews and consultation with World Rugby they had selected the best applicant for the job.
"We are pleased that he has accepted the job. He will be responsible in guiding the team to international success and contribute to the leadership of the FRU High Performance Program.
"This is an opportunity for him to work with and develop Fiji's current and future elite players," said Mr O'Connor.
In its fourth year, the National Rugby Championship (NRC) involves nine professional rugby teams, with the Fijian side joining eight domestic sides from throughout Australia.
Mr O'Connor said it was an historic milestone for Fiji to play in the NRC which would also help the FRU to develop.
"It is a major step and achievement for Fiji to have a team playing in this competition and credit must go to the ARU who, along with New Zealand, are often criticised for drawing players from the Pacific Islands but not giving much back in return. We are very thankful to both the ARU and to World Rugby for their support," he said.
"It is an exciting opportunity for Fiji Rugby. It creates a bridge for our best young talent between our domestic competition and a professional, international competition, which has been a gaping hole in our competition and player development pathway.
"We have a huge pool of talent and our goal is to be competitive from Game one. We respect the NRC as a competition and that it will be a challenge for us, but it's one we want, need, and will embrace".
"Selection into this team ensures that the locally based players are on the pathway towards becoming a World Class player in terms of the proper training programs and personal development that will benefit FRU's National Rugby Teams, which is our mission."
A number of Fiji Warriors players are expected to be involved in the country's Australian NRC team. Photo: Kitione Rokomanu / Zooomfiji
Fiji will play their first match against two-time premiers Brisbane City at Ballymore on Friday 2 September, with the competition to run for nine weeks.
The first home match will be in round three, with the Fijian side hosting New South Wales Country Eagles at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.
A total of four home games will be played in Fiji at Churchill Park in Lautoka and Suva's ANZ Stadium.
