Mick Byrne, ex-gourou des All Blacks, futur entraîneur des Fidji ?
L’entraîneur des Fijian Drua, Mick Byrne, pourrait quitter l’équipe du Super Rugby Pacific à la fin de la saison pour prendre la tête de l’équipe nationale des Fidji, selon plusieurs sources.
Cette saison, les Drua, septièmes au classement, sont en passe d’atteindre une nouvelle fois les phases finales. Il s’agirait d’un départ en beauté pour Byrne qui, selon certaines sources, « devrait quitter la direction de la Drua ».
Liam Napier, journaliste au New Zealand Herald, affirme que « plusieurs sources » lui ont confirmé que Mick Byrne, 65 ans, devrait bientôt entraîner les futurs adversaires des All Blacks.
« Byrne aurait le soutien de World Rugby, après la visite récente aux Fidji du directeur des compétitions, Nigel Cass, ancien directeur du rugby de NZ Rugby », indique le New Zealand Herald.
Entraîneur en charge des skills
Surnommé « Mick the Kick », cet ancien joueur de football australien (Aussie rules) de 2 mètres ayant disputé 167 matchs entre 1977 et 1989, s’est ensuite tourné vers le coaching dans le rugby à XV. L’Australien s’est reconverti entraîneur en charge des skills, un secteur de jeu dans lequel il est considéré comme un pionnier.
Il a d’abord exercé au Leinster avant de travailler pour l’Ecosse, puis pendant dix ans avec la Nouvelle-Zélande (avec qui il a gagné les Coupes du Monde 2011 et 2015 – la grande époque Dan Carter) et enfin l’Australie avec Michael Cheika (sa famille habite à Brisbane) avant de prendre en charge la Fijian Drua en 2021, juste avant la première saison du Super Rugby Pacific.
Très bien intégré dans la société fidjienne – la fédération insiste pour que le futur sélectionneur des Flying Fijians soit un professionnel du cru – il a permis à ce que la Drua dispose d’équipements professionnels de qualité. Par exemple, cela ne fait que deux mois que l’équipe dispose enfin de son premier terrain d’entraînement permanent près de sa base à l’aéroport de Nadi.
Sans cesse étonné de la détermination des Fidjiens, il y a quelques semaines, Byrne déclarait au média Stuff : « J’ai connu d’autres environnements où les garçons pouvaient se demander ce qu’ils faisaient là. Mais ici, ils se mettent au boulot à fond, sans se plaindre, et font ce qu’ils ont à faire. »
Premier test le 22 juin
Le premier match des Fidji de la saison 2024 se déroulera contre les Barbarians à Twickenham le 22 juin – le même jour que la finale du Super Rugby Pacific. Les Fidji affronteront également la Géorgie pendant la fenêtre internationale de juillet avant un test contre la Nouvelle-Zélande prévu le 19 juillet à San Diego, aux Etats-Unis.
Ces quelques échéances commencent à provoquer une certaine inquiétude dans l’archipel. Il y a quelques jours, l’autre candidat au poste, le Fidjien Senirusi Seruvakula, actuellement en intérim à la tête des Flying Fijians, confiait son appréhension dans le Fiji Times.
« En plus de la nomination du nouveau sélectionneur, le défi principal réside dans le manque de temps », remarquait-il. « Actuellement, en tant qu’entraîneur par intérim des Flying Fijians, j’ai un œil sur les joueurs fidjiens qui évoluent à l’étranger. Cependant, en attendant, tout ce que nous pouvons faire, c’est croiser les doigts et espérer une nomination rapide de l’entraîneur. »
En l’état actuel des choses, il ne s’agit que de rumeurs. Mick Byrne est toujours officiellement en concurrence avec Senirusi Seruvakula pour le poste. Seruvakula a déjà entraîné l’équipe féminine des Fidji et la Fijiana Drua, qui ont remporté le Super Rugby Aupiki.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
1 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
12 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
12 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
18 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to comments