18 December, 2025, 8:24 am Central - 26°C Rain

I do not want to out-coach the Fijian style of rugby - Byrne

I do not want to out-coach the Fijian style of rugby - Byrne

By Mosese Raqio
20/06/2025
Fiji Water Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne Photo: RNZ

As the Fiji Water Flying Fijians get ready for their July test matches against the Wallabies and Scotland, coach Mick Byrne has made it clear that he does not want to out-coach the style of rugby that the Flying Fijians play, but he is just going to try and help the players on making some decisions when they get excited with ball-in-hand, which is a huge challenge for him.

While speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, Byrne says the style of rugby Fiji plays is their strength and sometimes, it is their weakness as well.

He says their ability to improvise how to play off turnover ball or a line break, as well as the excitement that comes to the players when those situations occur, goes right back to the village game.

Byrne says it all comes down to gathering the players together from 15 or 16 different environments and only having three training days, and it is hard to instill a style of rugby that is disciplined in the way they play.

He adds that is one of their challenges and something they need to work on.

Byne says he felt that their discipline around their defence last year improved.

He says they hardly gave any offside penalty when they played in the tests, apart from two offside penalties they conceded against Ireland.

Meanwhile, the Flying Fijians squad will assemble next Thursday, before flying out to Newcastle on Friday.

They will take on the Wallabies at 3pm on Saturday 6th July, in Newcastle.

They will then take on Scotland at 3pm on Saturday 12th July, at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.

FNRL
FEATURE NEWS
PM says Govt cannot interfere into any human trafficking investigations
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka admits he is worried about Fiji's reputation in relation to the human trafficking allegations and issues relating to G...
8 minutes ago
LATEST NEWS
Flash Flood and Heavy Rain alerts cancelled for Fiji
A Flash Flood Alert that was previously in force for low-lying and flood-prone areas in the southern and eastern parts of Viti Levu, as well as the ...
50 minutes ago

Acting Police Commissioner warns new recruits against abuse of authority
Acting Commissioner of Police, Aporosa Lutunauga, has warned newly graduated police recruits against abusing their authority, stressing that such ...
52 minutes ago

CCTV cameras in central Suva fully operational, hand-over to police soon - Patel
CCTV cameras installed across key streets in central Suva are now fully operational, with final internet connectivity work expected to be completed ...
14 hours ago

Flood waters recede in Rakiraki Town
Flood water in Rakiraki Town and other areas are receding while a flash flood warning remains in force for northern Viti Levu from Tavua to Ra.A ...
14 hours ago

Labasa market vendors work with council to help identify illegal activities
For the first time, the Labasa Market Vendors Association is working together with the Labasa Town Council to identify drug-related cases in the ...
15 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Sonia Shanaaz says silent treatment hurts as she waits for assistance for her daughter with cerebral palsy
Sonia Shanaaz, the mother of 10-year-old Aarna who was born with cerebral palsy, says silent treatment hurts after she reached out to the ...
6 days ago

I do not support police officers being charged on public opinions and without evidence - COMPOL
Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu says he will stand by his officers, and he does not support any officer being charged based on public opinion ...
6 days ago

Dubai 7s 2025
The Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s side are working on their fitness as they prepare for the start of the 2025/2026 World 7s Series this ...
10 days ago

TOP