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Leicester assistant Mike Ford linked with role on other side of the world


Leicester's Mike Ford smiles after the crucial relegation battle win over Newcastle last April (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
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Former England and Ireland assistant Mike Ford has emerged as the latest name linked to take over from John McKee as coach of Fiji. 

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The Leicester attack coach is among a lengthy list of candidates all said to be vying for a position that is not yet officially vacant.

Current Fijian boss John McKee, who is contracted through to December 31, is still in the dark as to what he fate will be. 

“I will very quickly know if I continue or if it stops: it is in the hands of the steering committee,” he said recently on New Zealand radio.

Despite competitive performances against Australia and Wales at the World Cup, McKee’s reputation was hugely dented by Fiji’s shock defeat to minnows Uruguay.

(Continue reading below…)

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Who is potentially in the running to succeed McKee is a moveable feast. Clermont’s Franck Azema and Pau’s Nicolas Godignon have apparently already been ruled out, but Toulouse’s Regis Sonnes and ex-Bayonne coach Vincent Etcheto are said to have among the names still being considered by the Fijian Rugby Union in Suva. 

Midi Olympique had reported that McKee’s likely successor was set to be French, given the presence of so many of their players in the Top 14, but the inclusion now of Ford in the mix suggests that the situation is very fluid.  

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Ford last worked in the Test arena in November 2018 when coaching Germany in the qualification playoffs for the 2019 World Cup in Japan. He then linked up with Leicester, initially as a consultant before adopting the role of attack coach this season.

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Phantom 1 hour ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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