The Fijian Drua head coach to the Super Rugby Pacific competition which gets un­derway in February 2022, is go­ing to be announced in the near future.

This was confirmed yesterday by Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer John O’Connor.

“We’ll officially announce the Fi­jian Drua head coach next week af­ter we complete all our discussions and negotiations with the success­ful applicant,” he said.

O’Connor highlighted the Fijian Drua Interim CEO, and the Fijian Drua head coach would then an­nounce the assistant coaches and his coaching staff.

It is understood that several coaching and medical staff from the Fijian men’s rugby sevens team that won the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are earmarked to join the Fijian Drua franchise.

There have been coaches like Daryl Gibson, Frank Azema, Joe Schmidt along with former All Blacks and Wallabies skills coach Mick Byrne who are linked to the job.

Last Friday, it was officially an­nounced that FRU general man­ager commercial Brian Thorburn had been seconded by the Fiji Rug­by Union to be the interim Fijian Drua CEO until the end of 2021.

Barrett cleared

Meanwhile, All Blacks fullback Jordie Barrett has escaped further punishment after being sent off in last weekend’s 38-21 win over the Wallabies in Perth.

Barrett was given a red card in the first half of the final Bledisloe Cup test when his boot contacted the face of Fijian born Walla­bies winger Marika Koroibete after jumping in the air to catch a high kick.

He is free to play in Sunday’s Rugby Championship test against Argentina on the Gold Coast.

Barrett faced a SANZAAR judi­cial hearing on Wednesday night

The judiciary found the fullback not guilty of contravening Law 9.11 (dangerous or foul play).

No further sanction has been im­posed.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj