Vodafone Flying Fijians head coach John McKee will attend a World Rugby conference in Sydney this weekend.

Apart from already securing a test match against the Wallabies in Melbourne in June next year, the other internationals for 2017 will be finalised at the meeting.

Scotland and Wales are scheduled to make a tour of the Pacific next year.

“Hopefully after the meeting, the 2017 test schedules will be finalised,” McKee said.

“2017 is a big year being a qualifying round for the 2019RWC.

“We need to prepare well for 2019 and push our standings on the ranking by putting on our best performance on the test arena starting with England and Japan in November.”

McKee is closely keeping a tab on the victorious Team Fiji sevens rugby team who won a gold medal at the Rio Olympics last week.

7 reps, 15s contract

With the help of Coach Ben Ryan, McKee hopes to help secure rugby contracts for the players.

Josh Tuisova (Toulon), Leone Nakarawa (Racing Metro), Semi Kunatani (Toulouse) and Samisoni Viriviri have already secured good contracts in France.

Robust Savenaca Rawaca will celebrate his 25th birthday in Navatu, Bua before he departs for England to team up with Saracens.

Earlier this year the Aviva Premiership leaders announced that Rawaca, who can play at wing or centre, has signed a ‘multi-year deal’.

Saracens Rugby director Mark McCall said: ‘Save is an exciting player, and at 24 years old he still has a huge amount of potential.

“I am sure his physical type of game will flourish in both the Aviva Premiership and European rugby.”

McKee is also closely monitoring Fijians playing in the Mitre 10 Cup competition which started in New Zealand yesterday and the National Rugby Championship which starts in Australia next week.

10 Fijians in Australia’s NRC

Meanwhile, the following Fijians have been named in Australia’s National Rugby Championships starting next week:

Brisbane City:  Samu Kerevi, Chris Kuridrani, Mosese Sorovi (No.9),  Isei Naserai  (No. 8);

Queensland Country: Apisai Nayabo (No.6), Kirwan Sanday (Prop);

University of Canberra Vikings: Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani;

Perth Spirit: Semisi Masirewa, Eric Vasuicakau;

Melbourne Rising: Sefa Naivalu;

Meanwhile, former national 7s rep Nayabo, Sorovi, Naserai, Masirewa and Vasuicakau are making their first appearances in the NRC.

Naivalu will be making his second appearance while Wallabies Speight, Kuridrani and Kerevi as well as Brisbane-based Chris Kuridrani and Sanday have been in the NRC since  it started three years ago.

The focus will be on defending champions, the Brisbane City side laced with four Fijians and also the Queensland Country side which is coached by former Wallaby and current Ikale Tonga coach Toutai Kefu and former All Black lock, Brad Thorn as a player/forwards coach

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